Gardens are glorious in Shrewsbury

Hermitage Community Garden in Frankwell achieved a Level 5 Outstanding award from the Royal Horticultural Society as part of its community gardening campaign.

The scheme is part of Britain in Bloom and supports community groups in cleaning up and greening up their immediate local environment - whether that’s the street they live in, or a small patch of communal land needing a revamp.

Any group can join as long as it is volunteer led and involved in hands-on community gardening.

Alexis Tippet, from Hermitage Community Garden, said: “Our community gardeners are delighted that the judges have awarded us Level 5 Outstanding. We have gone from strength to strength since starting our community garden and we are thrilled that the judges recognise the enthusiasm and commitment that our local residents show to ensure that we have a community facility that everyone can use.”

The garden is at the heart of the Frankwell community. It has been used for yoga sessions and also celebrated Halloween with a selection of pumpkins. Seasonal veg such as peas, tomatoes, garlic and salad leaves are grown for all to enjoy.

Councillor Keith Roberts, chairman of Shrewsbury in Bloom, added: “This is fantastic news for one of our local communities in the town which helps to prove, once again, that Shrewsbury is blooming marvellous.

“The advantages of coming together as a community to improve the local area are immense and helps to reduce social isolation and strengthen community values. I would encourage anyone who would like to transform a neglected area in their neighbourhood to get in touch with the Committee to see how we can help.”

In 2006, the RHS introduced the Neighbourhood Awards (now the It's Your Neighbourhood campaign), a grassroots sister campaign to Bloom, supporting smaller, volunteer-led community groups focused on improving their immediate environment. There are currently more than 1,300 registered groups.

The initiative works around the same three pillars of assessment as RHS Britain in Bloom: Community Participation, Gardening Achievement and Environmental Responsibility; however, it is not a competitive campaign. Participating groups receive an annual visit from an It's Your Neighbourhood assessor, who provides feedback and tips for how to develop projects, and each group receives a certificate of achievement from the RHS.

It is free to enter and open to groups of all sizes.

For more information on how the Shrewsbury in Bloom Committee can assist local volunteer groups, contact Shrewsbury Town Council on 01743 281010 or email: enquiries@shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk or alternatively, visit the RHS website at rhs.org.uk/get-involved/its-your-neighbourhood