Hillsborough ready to look its bloomin’ best as judges arrive

Hillsborough is among 72 finalists, picked from more than a thousand cities, towns, villages and urban communities.

Lisburn City Council says it is pulling out all its floral stops to give the village the best possible chance to achieve an award.

Hillsborough is representing Northern Ireland in the Large Village Category and is competing with Hutton Cranswick, Market Bosworth, Melrose, Tatsfield, Warkworth and Truro. While the results won’t be announced in the autumn, the actual judging of the village’s floral displays will take place next month.

Cllr Andrew Ewing, Chairman of the Council’s Environmental Services Committee, said: it was ‘an honour’ for Hillsborugh to have got so far.

“The Council’s gardening teams have been working really hard on our floral displays and we are really beginning to move up a gear now to ensure the village is ready to impress the judging panel” he said.

“I would also like to express our deep gratitude and appreciation to the Hillsborough Village Committee members who have worked side by side with our Council Officers to ensure that our written entry for the village is as good as it can be.

“We are looking forward to meeting the judging panel and showing them what we have to offer. This is an example of a real partnership effort between the Council and the community and everyone wants Hillsborough to get an award.”

RHS National Judges Andrew Jackson and Jim Goodwin, will be visiting Hillsborough from 9.30-11.30, to meet and be taken on a tour of the area by local volunteers. They will be assessing projects against three key criteria – horticultural achievement, community participation and environmental responsibility.

They will assess everything from the sustainability of a planting scheme, to the cleanliness of a street bench, including how much the community engages local schools.

Roger Burnett, Chair of the RHS Britain in Bloom UK Judging Panel, said: “I love seeing the imaginative ways that communities overcome challenges.”

Roger added: “Our visit is not meant to be stressful so please just relax and enjoy yourselves – we’re here to see the marvellous work you’ve done to improve your local areas and we can’t wait to meet you. On behalf of all the RHS judges, we wish you the best of luck, Hillsborough.”