Home / Environment / Stonehouse Blooms: Town Wins Top Gardening Award
Stonehouse Blooms: Town Wins Top Gardening Award
21 Oct
Summary
- Stonehouse won Britain's largest community gardening competition.
- The town impressed judges with its community arboretum plan.
- A tree trail of 21 specimens is available for visitors.
Stonehouse, located in Gloucestershire, has achieved the highest honor in Britain's largest community gardening competition. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom judges recognized the town for its innovative community arboretum initiative. This ambitious project aims to significantly increase tree canopy coverage within Stonehouse, targeting 30% by the year 2040.
The town's approach to an arboretum is distinctive, encompassing all trees within its boundaries, irrespective of land ownership. This community-driven effort has resulted in the creation of a visitor trail featuring 21 different tree specimens, offering educational insights into each one. Volunteers and residents have been instrumental in planting and caring for the 49 trees established so far.
Stonehouse in Bloom not only secured a RHS Gold award but also triumphed in the Small Town category. Darren Share, chair of the Britain in Bloom judges, lauded the "real community effort" and the group's investment in its urban forest. The win is viewed as a lasting legacy for the town, planting trees for future generations.
