Double delight for second silver award–winning Middleton–in–Bloom group

Middleton–by–Wirksworth achieved its second Silver Gilt Award at this year’s East Midlands in Bloom Awards – scoring 156 points which is six up on last year.

The village has increased its score every year since it began entering the competition in 2009.

Highlights mentioned by the judges included the excellence of the Duke Field sheltered housing front gardens, the environmental and horticultural education provided for children at the village school, the introduction of the Best Garden competition stimulating many good entries, and the refurbishment of the Millennium Garden which is now underway.

Also highlighted were the standard of cleanliness and the voluntary litter picks, the Cutting Shed heritage plaque recognising the national importance of the local stone industry and the painting by volunteers of the old bus shelter as well as the many good examples of conservation, biodiversity and heritage not least at Middleton Top Quarry.

The distribution of information about In Bloom activities in the Village Pump newsletter was also recognised as was and the commendable partnerships with other village groups such as the Environment Group, which organised the highly effective Open Gardens weekend raising both awareness and finance.