MK in Britain in Bloom final

25 January 2011, 12:23 | Updated: 10 February 2011, 12:41

More than 400 trees are being given to Milton Keynes following the borough’s success in reaching the finals of the Britain in Bloom competition.

The trees, which have been donated by the Woodland Trust on behalf of the competition organisers Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), will planted in March. This is when the Milton Keynes in Bloom campaign will be officially launched.

There are 77 villages, towns, cities and urban communities from across the UK that will be visited by a panel of national RHS Britain in Bloom judges and four of these are in the ‘Large City’ category: Milton Keynes, Edinburgh, Brent and Bristol.

Stony Stratford has also won a place in the National Finals, within the ‘Small Town’ category alongside St Martin, Tetbury, Ahoghill and Dunnington.

Maurice Barnes, a neighbourhood engagement officer with Milton Keynes Council, said: “With tough competition, Milton Keynes residents and businesses can help keep its streets, gardens and open spaces looking their best for when the judges visit in the summer.

“We ask everyone to get behind the Milton Keynes in Bloom campaign to help us have the best chance of winning the Britain in Bloom award."

Cllr Mike Galloway, cabinet member responsible for Landscapes, said: “In these difficult times I am delighted that Milton Keynes is recognised as a great place to live with wonderful open spaces creating that feel good factor.

”This competition is a great example of how in Milton Keynes residents and our partners, such as The Parks Trust, have come together for the benefit of the whole community.”

RHS Community Horticulture Manager, Stephanie Eynon, said: ”All the selected communities have put a lot of hard work into their entry and to get this far means they are already something special.”