Awards joy for Stourbridge and Wall Heath in Bloom campaigns

Stourbridge in Bloom was awarded a gold medal at this year’s Heart of England in Bloom awards, while Wall Heath’s entry picked up a silver gilt award.

The volunteers who help to keep Stourbridge tidy were delighted to see the town had found its way back to gold award success – after missing out last year by just one point.

A spokesperson for Stourbridge in Bloom, which has now won 11 gold awards over two decades, said the volunteers behind the campaign were “thrilled” to receive another gold gong at the Bloom awards in Meriden on September 20 in the 60th year of the RHS’s Britain in Bloom gardening competition.

A planter outside historic Stourbridge pub The Mitre as part of the 2024 Stourbridge in Bloom campaign (Image: Bev Holder / Newsquest)

They added: “We are all volunteers totally responsible for planting, watering, maintaining and fundraising. Last year we missed out on gold by one point and were determined to work even harder this year to achieve our goal.”

Members of Stourbridge U3A who have worked hard on this year's Stourbridge in Bloom campaign (Image: Stourbridge U3A)

Wall Heath in Bloom also enjoyed success at the awards, picking up a silver gilt accolade – having entered the campaign officially for the first time this year.

Sue Bolton, the group’s public engagement officer, said: “The local business and community support has been amazing and enabled us to create a lovely village display. The team was thrilled to receive a silver gilt award.”

Wall Heath in Bloom (Image: Wall Heath in Bloom)

The borough’s Bloom campaigners say they are expecting to receive no financial support from Dudley Council next year as the authority looks to make savings to balance the books.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, however, said with the council switching to a new operating model he believes support will be available to help the campaigns.

He said: “The colour and feel-good factor in Wall Heath has been absolutely amazing. The borough is so lucky to have amazing volunteers across the whole borough. They really do show what community is all about and give that feeling of pride in our area.”

He said he looks forward to seeing the Bloom campaign sweeping into Kingswinford next year.

Councillor Damian Corfield, the council's cabinet member for environment and highways, said he was "absolutely delighted to see such strong results for In Bloom" this year and he added: “While we are unable to provide funding for plants in the future we will continue to support as we always have with planting, maintenance, watering, weeding, painting and litter and graffiti removal and will be offering advice on ways of accessing external funding.

"We look forward to continuing to work alongside the dedicated community groups and volunteers who help to make the borough a cleaner, greener place to live.”