Danny McCartney (left), Derry City Council’s Grounds Maintenance, Parks and Cemeteries Manager picking up the Silver Gilt Award at the Britain in Bloom finals.
Derry City Council has won a top award at a prestigious community gardening competition.
City Mayor, Cllr Brenda Stevenson, has extended her congratulations to all involved in the Council winning the Silver Gilt Award in the Small City category at the 50th Britain in Bloom UK Final awards, Europe’s biggest community gardening campaign.
Run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), more than 1,600 cities, towns, villages and urban communities across Britain and Northern Ireland take part in the campaign each year to show off their achievements in environmental responsibility, community participation and horticultural achievement.
The Council was represented at the awards ceremony by Danny McCartney, Grounds Maintenance, Parks and Cemeteries Manager, and Conor Canning, Head of Environmental Services.
Mr McCartney said he was delighted that the RHS Britain in Bloom judges had continued to be impressed with the high standards being maintained in the city.
He added: “Once again I want to thank my dedicated team at Derry City Council and all those who participated on the judging day whose help and support has led to this Silver Gilt Award.”
Cllr Stevenson said she was delighted the Council, which won the coveted Gold Award last year, had maintained an “exceptionally high” standard by scooping Silver Gilt this year.
She added the award was acknowledgement of the hard work of Derry City Council’s Grounds Maintenance and Street Cleansing Sections “extremely hard work” all year round to provide the “eye catching, vibrant horticultural displays which have created a colourful, attractive and clean streetscape around the city for our own local citizens and visitors to enjoy.”
Commenting on Derry City in Bloom’s efforts, RHS judges said: “On the tour of this historic town we were able to meet a number of the volunteers involved in the Bloom campaign. Huge community spirit was evident in the splendid RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood entry at Wellington Street Residents, where it was clear that all ages were involved in their fun-filled work. There was a fantastic ‘can-do’ spirit evident in this entry, and we wish them every success for the future.”
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