Britain in Bloom's impact


As Britain in Bloom celebrates its 50th anniversary, a survey into the impact of the RHS-run community gardening campaign has shown that volunteers planted almost 3,000,000 bulbs, 185,000 trees and 718,000 shrubs last year alone.


There are thousands of volunteers involved with RHS Britain in Bloom and It's Your Neighbourhood, responsible for looking after more than 46,000 ha (114,000 acres) of public land from 'pocket parks' to conservation sites across the UK.

This highlights the significant role volunteers play in maintaining and developing their green spaces, at a time when such places are targets for local authority budget cuts.  The 300 groups that responded to the survey are now responsible for more than 110 acres of green space each.

Around 58% have turned abandoned land (previously prone to fly-tipping), into usable community spaces such as allotments, while others have safeguarded land for public use that was earmarked for building and development.

'A large part of RHS Britain in Bloom is about people coming together to take responsibility for green space that might otherwise have been left unmanaged,' said RHS Director General Sue Biggs.


Many of the respondents cited a need to improve their local area and increase their levels of local pride as the reasons for taking part.  
Others said that community ethos and cohesion as well as the enjoyment of competing and achieving recognition was their motivation.

Stephanie Eynon, RHS Community Horticulture Manger, said the survey was particularly useful for identifying trends and helping to inform how to develop the campaign and the support it will offer in future.  

This survey also highlights a shift in favour of sustainable planting material over seasonal bedding schemes.  

Around 53% of respondents' planting is now longer-lasting trees, shrubs and perennials - an increase  of 7% since 2010.  In Bloom's City category  the figure for 'sustainable' planting is more than 90%.

For more on the campaign, including the 2014 finalists, visit http://www.rhs.org.uk/communities/campaigns/britain-in-bloom.


See also: http://www.rhs.org.uk/communities/campaigns/britain-in-bloom/launching-this-years-britain-in-bloom

Here's to the next 50 years: to ensure RHS Britain in Bloom thrives and develops over the next 50 years, the Society has united with 16 regional and national groups to form the Bloom Federation.  

Chair Prunella Scarlet and Vice Chair Eileen Burn from Northumbria in Bloom say the Bloom Federation will work  to increase the scale and impact of the campaign, and encourage more people to get involved.   

It will act as a way of formally working together to identify shared goals, prioritise developments and increase the support and value for participants.

See: http://press.rhs.org.uk/RHS-Outreach/Press-releases/New-Bloom-Federation-will-Boost-Community-Gardenin.aspx  and http://news.molesseeds.co.uk/industry-news/rhs-bloom-federation-created/801690379

For the origins of Britain in Bloom was the brainchild of Roy Hay, who'd been very involved in the 'Dig for Victory' campaign during WWII, amongst other achievements.  

When in France Roy saw the french competition Fleurissement de France, started by President de Gaulle in the 1950s and wondered if something similar would work here in the UK.  See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Hay_(horticulturist)