Blooming brilliant! Town comes top in flower contest (From Worcester News)

Blooming brilliant! Town comes top in flower contest

9:00am Friday 12th September 2008 in

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AFTER months of highs and lows, Upton-upon-Severn has won this year’s Heart of England In Bloom competition.

The Worcestershiere town took the gold medal, beating more than 100 other entrants to be named overall winner.

Peter Bellamy, the chairman of Upton’s In Bloom committee, was surprised and delighted. He said: “We simply didn’t think a small town like us would stand a chance in comparison with some of the major cities,” he said.

“It reinforces what judges have always told us - it is not just about the flowers.”

Upton was praised for having a tireless community spirit, for being environmentally aware, for incorporting boats on the river and for an impressive watering system.

The victory comes at a good time for riverside residents still coping with the effects of successive floods and various other ups and downs.

Last week, Olympic hero Zac Purchase, who won gold in Beijing, visited Upton to raise a London 2012 flag – but only after the original was stolen.

The flood barriers, put up after the river Severn burst its banks on Saturday, could come down today after the Environment Agency reviews the situation but the high water level brings back memories of 2007’s severe flooding.

Mr Bellamy said the town’s had a “Dunkirk spirit”.

“It was never more noticeable than during last year’s devastating floods,” he said.

“Fortunately, that attitude of making the most of a bad situation and working together has been sustained.”

Mr Bellamy welcomed the fact that Upton’s floral success would probably entice more tourists to the area, but said the committee’s efforts were primarily for people who lived and workd in the town.

The Heart of England In Bloom results were announced at a ceremony yesterday in Burton-upon Trent. Elsewhere in Worcestershire, Malvern won a silver-gilt in the large town category and Pershore got silver-gilt in the town category. Upton, as well as being overall winner, took home gold in the large village category.