Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust are delighted to announce that the Cockington Memorial Rose Garden has just been awarded outstanding recognition in the 2019 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom and South West in Bloom Annual Awards.
These awards are a nationwide community gardening competition that attracts towns, villages, cities and urban communities from across the country to participate every year, to help improve their natural environments, green space and public gardens. Projects are judged on their achievements in environmental responsibility, community participation and horticultural successes.
Judging took place at Cockington in July and was attended by the Cockington Volunteer Team and Lead Gardener, Mardie Short.
Last week the team learned of their great victory in recognition of their work in caring for Cockington’s Rose Garden, achieving ‘Level 5 – Outstanding’ (the third in four consecutive years of entering) in the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood Award’ category; particularly recognising the huge contribution made by the Trust volunteers.
Cockington Lead Gardener Mardie Short said:
“I am absolutely delighted and congratulate all of our wonderful volunteers. I’m so very proud of them and also very grateful for their help, support and excellent work over this past year. They are fantastic”!
Damian Offer, Chief Executive, Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to receive such significant recognition towards the care and maintenance of this special place at Cockington. Our regular community volunteers thoroughly deserve this recognition and accolade. At the Trust we value and very much appreciate their commitment, contribution and support, without which the Memorial Rose Garden would not look as impressive as it does. We would like to thank every one of our amazing Trust volunteers”.
ENDS
For more information about this Press Release, please contact: Sarah James: 01803 520 022 or email: sarah.james@countryside-trust.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust
An independent charity dedicated to looking after Torbay’s most important wildlife and heritage sites, including Berry Head National Nature Reserve, Cockington Country Park, Occombe Farm, The Seashore Centre, the South West Coast Path and the English Riviera Geopark.
Cockington Country Park is a beautiful mix of picturesque well-ordered garden landscapes, open parkland, rural countryside and substantial woodland. Tucked in amongst this 450 acre park are three pretty ornamental lakes, a chocolate box village, delightful thatched cottages and a quaint church. The Park is cared for by Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust and their team of Cockington Volunteers. Restoration projects have been funded through the Cockington Green Heart Appeal and the National Lottery Heritage. https://www.countryside-trust.org.uk/cockington
RHS Britain in Bloom and South West in Bloom. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. They took over organising Britain in Bloom in 2001. Britain in Bloom is a nation-wide competition and the UK’s longest running. It is recognised across the UK as a symbol of excellence in community gardening, strong community spirit and pride of place. It’s aim is to support communities to improve their quality of life through gardening. https://www.rhs.org.uk/communities/campaigns/britain-in-bloom/about
