By Alison Stubbs: The Bath Business Improvement District (BID) is thrilled to announce its recent success at the South West in Bloom Awards, where it not only secured a prestigious Gold Award but was also celebrated as the overall winner in the BID category for the South West region.
South West in Bloom, one of eighteen regional competitions under the Britain in Bloom umbrella, aims to enhance and rejuvenate local environments through creative planting, conservation, recycling projects, and the elimination of litter, graffiti, and vandalism.
This summer, Bath BID collaborated with local businesses, volunteers, and the Council to maintain the city’s beauty and cleanliness year-round, impressing the judges during their visit in July. In addition to Bath BID’s entry, the local voluntary group Bath in Bloom also won gold for their regional entry, with both groups supporting each other throughout the summer.
Allison Herbert, Chief Executive of Bath BID, stated:
“We are incredibly proud of our achievements and the collaborative effort that made this possible. Our heartfelt congratulations also go to SouthGate Bath and Milsom Place for winning Gold Awards in the Business, Leisure, and Tourism category of South West in Bloom.”
The Bath BID would like to thank all of the sponsors and helpers of our South West in Bloom entry including our major sponsors Hawksmoor, Whittard, SRA Architects and Bath and North East Somerset Council. Additionally, hanging baskets throughout the city were sponsored by Grist Environmental, Languages United, The Francis Hotel, Bath Abbey, McDonalds and Skyline. The 26 planters along Parade Gardens were sponsored by Buro Happold, BMT, Carter Jonas, Churchman Thornhill Finch, DKA, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Grant Associates, HomeLets, Nisbets, No.15 Great Pulteney, Radio Bath, Rocketmakers, Stride Treglown, The Business Exchange South West and Transform Communications.
Huge numbers of volunteers assembled on several occasions to help prepare for judging. Hampton by Hilton, Doubletree Hilton, Abbey Hotel, McDonald’s, Apex City of Bath Hotel, Inigo Business Centre, and the dedicated team from Bath in Bloom all spent a collective several hundred hours litter picking, weeding, planting and painting the city to perfection. One blooming brilliant day saw a crowd of 31 enthusiastic helpers including volunteers from Transform, DKA Architects and Stride Treglown planting the beautiful urns along Parade Gardens with flowers.
We are also grateful for the support of Milsom Place, SouthGate Bath, The Hawk and Owl Trust and the Walcot Artisan Quarter in preparing our entry for Bath BID in Bloom, as well as all the businesses who take great care of their premises and flowers which all help make Bath welcoming and beautiful all year round.
This year is the 60th anniversary of Britain in Bloom and Bath won the first competition in 1964. The National Britain in Bloom Awards Ceremony is taking place on 21st October and our friends at Bath in Bloom are up for the national award. We are hoping for the full trio of gold awards for Bath this year!
The Bath Business Improvement District (BID) is an independent, not-for-profit, business-led initative working to create the environment for businesses in Bath to success. https://www.bathbid.co.uk/
South West in Bloom is one of eighteen regional competitions that make up Britain in Bloom. This competition aims to improve and regenerate our local environments through the imaginative planting of trees, shrubs, flowers and landscaping, conservation and recycling projects and to sweep away litter, graffiti and vandalism. https://www.southwestinbloom.org.uk/default.aspx