Sir Edward Garnier met Market Harborough in Bloom Volunteers during National Volunteering Week on Friday, 10 June, by the Old Grammar school in the town.
The volunteers will be celebrating MHiB's 20th anniversary during a particularly busy summer - East Midlands in Bloom judging day is on Tuesday, 5 July and Britain in Bloom’s judging day on Friday, 5 August.
In 2014 MHiBV were the overall winners in the large town category and in 2015 were joint winners with Belper receiving Gold.
Margaret Richards said, "The last time we were invited to enter Britain in Bloom was 2013 when we received a silver guilt so our aim this year is to win Gold."
The East Midlands in Bloom judging route will include:
Welland Park, walking along the Millennium Mile, through St. Marys Place, Memorial Gardens, The Square, High Street, Old Grammar School, The Three Swans, Fairfield Road to Church of England Academy, past the Fire Station, Union Wharf, Alvington Way, Burnmill Road to the Hammond Arboretum at Robert Smyth Academy, down Burnmill Road to St. Mary’s Road stopping at The Cube Youth Centre, Market Harborough Railway Station, Rockingham Road, Valley Way Trading Estate, back towards town going down Gores Lane to J. Stamp & Sons, walk to St. Nicholas Churchyard and then onto Little Bowden Recreation ground allotments.
Ken Hook Chairman of MHiBV said, “Everyone in the town can help us by putting out an extra tub or hanging basket, cutting the grass in front of their house and making sure there is no litter around. We know that everyone in the town is proud of where they live and work. The Volunteers have not only been busy planting flowers and maintaining the rose garden in Welland Park but also working with the scouting groups planting vegetables and flowers, making hedgehog houses, pallet planters and our school coordinator, Toni Cox, has supplied all 7 primary schools in the town with vegetable boxes and organised a painting competition. East Midlands in Bloom is not just about flowers but community involvement so please help us maintain GOLD”.
Edward Garnier added: “The Market Harborough in Bloom Volunteers represent all that is best about this town, doing things for others to enjoy without asking for payment, community spirit and hard work and I wish them well in the contest in this 20th anniversary year. If any group deserve Gold it is the Market Harborough Volunteers and I wish them every success with the judges.”