Team Green Moor celebrates gold medal

GREEN Moor’s community gardeners are celebrating today after walking away with a gold medal in the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) annual Britain in Bloom competition, announced at a ceremony this week.

Four finalists represented the region following success in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition last year.

A total of 68 groups from across the UK competed in 12 categories with each also vying for a gold, silver gilt, silver or bronze medal.

Yorkshire swept the board with all four finalists winning gold. Firsttime finalist Green Moor, this year’s smallest entry with a population of just 90, won the fiercely contested village category, seeing off six other challengers.

Green Moor impressed the judges with its top-notch horticulture and environmental dedication including a water-saving irrigation system and interactive nature trail. The parish has even bought a healthland area on former quarry land, dubbed the ‘Isle of Skye’, to preserve the biodiversity hotspot.

Finalists are judged not only on their floral displays but environmental and community efforts. Each was visited by a pair of RHS judges over a fortnight from the end of July.

Darren Share, Chair of the RHS Britain in Bloom judges, said: “Congratulations to all of this year’s UK finalists. It’s incredibly humbling to hear about the huge efforts they’ve invested in making our villages, towns and cities greener places to live, work and visit.

“This makes a tremendous difference locally but has a wider impact too. Gardeners are increasingly having to respond to the changing climate, declining pollinator numbers and plastic waste and more communities are galvanizing people around these issues to bring about positive change.”

The Yorkshire finalists collected their awards from Baroness Floella Benjamin, RHS Vice President, at the ceremony held in the RHS Lindley Hall, London.

Dave Rose said: “On behalf of Team Green Moor, can I extend a massive thank you for your support this year. At the awards ceremony, Green Moor were awarded a gold medal and secured the overall category win as Best Small Village in Britain.”