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Buxton sparkles in Europe |
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BUXTON has won a silver medal in the Towns category of the prestigious Entente Florale competition.
The town received its award during a glittering ceremony in Cardiff on Friday – just days after scooping the top prize in this year's East Midlands in Bloom competition for the fourth year in a row.
And the European judges singled out the Pavilion Gardens as a major contribution to the quality of the town's entry.
Retiring Buxton in Bloom chairman Jane McGrother, who has led the Entente Florale bid, said: "We would have liked the gold, but silver is still a great achievement. Out of 11 countries, only one was awarded the gold, although the judges said we were very close.
"It is a credit to everyone who has helped support the bid – community groups, local businesses and the staff at the Pavilion Gardens."
The Entente Florale is a European competition for towns and villages in 12 countries. Buxton was chosen by the Royal Horticultural Society to represent the UK after its success in last year's East Midlands in Bloom. The UK's other entry, Forres in Scotland, won gold in the villages category.
Entente Florale judge Clive Addison said: "At this high level of European competition, both Forres and Buxton did fantastically well to achieve their results. Buxton's wonderful Pavilion Gardens made a major contribution to the quality of their entry."
High Peak MP Tom Levitt said: "The team under Jane McGrother has worked incredibly hard and deserve this recognition. Being second – of many thousands – is high praise indeed.
"Jane brought together businesses, sponsors, celebrities and ordinary people who care about the quality of life. Her energy and ability to pull people together was at the heart of this success. This was not just about flowers but about commitment, community and common cause."
* Anyone interested in taking on the role of Buxton in Bloom chairman can call Jane on 01298 24779 for more information.
(Courtest of Buxton Advertiser) |
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Praise for town from Entente Florale team |
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BUXTON is putting down strong roots as a spa town through its community involvement in creating an environment which will improve the quality of life for us all, international Entente Florale judges said last week.
The group of experts from the Europe-wide contest, which promotes a greener and more pleasant way of urban living heaped praise on the organisers of Buxton's entry.
Chairman of the judges Monica Hetsch said Buxton's policy for permanent planting was a strong basis for the spa redevelopment of the Crescent, which developers hope will be completed within three years.
And she singled out the environmental education of children in the town for special praise: "Often, the children teach the parents," said Ms Hetsch.
The judges were particularly impressed with Transition Buxton, the new green campaigning group, and the response of local businesses to Buxton in Bloom's appeal for sponsorship – something which European towns envied the British for.
And she described Chairman Jane McGrother as "the motor" of the Buxton entry.
The group of experts in planning, landscape architecture, environmental issues and horticulture use a points system against a set of criteria which include community involvement, business involvement and support, natural and built environment and most of all quality of life.
The only criticisms of the town focused on the lack of imagination used in developing the Market Place, which has far too much tarmac for the judges' taste, and the plastic fascia boards of national retailers which mask the facades of what could be beautiful buildings in Spring Gardens.
The judges' decision will be revealed on September 25 in a ceremony in Cardiff when the town will know if it has won Gold, Silver or Bronze.
Mrs McGrother thanked everyone who had helped, especially Simply Thai, John Millican at the Leewood and David Croasdale at the Palace Hotel without whose generosity the judges would not have been able to visit; Tarmac and Lhoist.
* Source: Buxton Advertiser |
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We would like to thank the following for sponsoring Buxton in Bloom and Entente Florale . None of Buxton's achievements would be possible without our sponsors and committee members. Sponsorship has resulted in spectacular displays for the enjoyment of both residents and visitors
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Aldi
Arnold Mycock and Sons Butchers
Buxton Water
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth Garden Centre
Danubius
Dorothea
Honda
Leewood Hotel
No. 6 The Square
Tom Levitt, MP
Markovitz
Old Hall Hotel
Palace Hotel
Pure Buxton
Simply Thai
Tarmac Central |
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Buxton's Best Competition |
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10% discount on bedding plants
Once again Buxton needs your help to find Buxton’s Best - front garden - street - hanging basket or business front. Is it your front garden – or a neighbour’s? Where is Buxton’s best kept street and hanging basket?
The local competition, sponsored by local businesses, gives everyone the chance to enter themselves or nominate someone they know.
All entries arriving by Friday 8 May will receive a 10% discount voucher to be spent at Chatsworth Garden Centre
Simply fill in the attached form – or collect one from the Town Hall or the Buxton Advertiser office and return it to the Bloom Co-ordinator before Thursday 2 July 2009. |
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 Buxton in Bloom has successfully engaged the community delivering environmental campaigns throughout the town for the past decade. Now recognised throughout the town, region and more recently nationally the Buxton in Bloom brand name has a high profile recognising the success at regional and national levels.
Building on this success for 2009 Buxton has gained the recognition of being nominated to represent the United Kingdom in the Entente Florale Europe competition. This competition has a base of more than 22,000
communities spread across 12 European nations. This represents the largest horticultural competition in the world.
Delighted with this accolade the Buxton in Bloom committee wishes to extend an invitation to local, regional and national businesses to support our campaign and benefit from the profile that has built up over the past years and will be extended in 2009 to the whole of Europe.
The following information provides a summary of the sponsorship opportunities available and the benefits from them. We hope that you will carefully consider these opportunities and join with us to achieve our aim of:
To use the "Bloom" campaigns to improve the environment and quality of life, empowering and engaging the community and engendering civic pride.”
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Entente Florale
