Coffee morning helps Stratford's bid to blossom

STRATFORD in Bloom’s coffee morning at the town hall last Saturday raised £1,550 that’s £300 more than last year and the money will be used to boost Stratford’s budding bid to be a winner in this year’s Britain in Bloom competition.

Although judging for Britain in Bloom doesn’t take place until 27th July, the hard work to turn the town into a floral picture of perfection has already begun and the money raised from plant sales and hanging baskets on Saturday will enhance Stratford’s streets in time for the judges’ visit.

“We are increasing the floral displays and we’re increasing the number of baskets in the town from 175 to 200 that means there will be ten more in High Street. Our intention is to get Stratford back to how it looked a few years ago when it was full of colour. The local community and local businesses are working together to make this extra special,” Steve Brookes, chairman of Stratford in Bloom said.

The judges for Britain in Bloom look for a 50 per cent split between community floral display and horticultural displays and they are “keen” to see how townsfolk, charities, and local businesses have worked together throughout the competition.

Steve says Saturday’s coffee morning was a “huge success and there weren’t many seats available because they were all taken! We also had great support from our planting contractors Blenheim Nursery who supplied us with lots of herbaceous plants that sold quickly on the morning.”