Immingham won a coveted Silver Gilt award in 2014 – The RHS Britain in Bloom’s 50th Year – and the team was also awarded the RHS Britain in Bloom Young People’s Award, given to the finalist deemed to involve young people from across the community in the most effective way. As well as providing financial support for the campaign generally, ABP will also provide the funds necessary for the town’s In Bloom committee to create a conservation area on a piece of wasteland on Washdyke Lane in the town. Town councillor Stewart Swinburn is a head of the Immingham in Bloom committee and has been instrumental in securing sponsorship for the town’s entries, for coordinating volunteers and devising ever-more creative themes and displays.
He said: “This year the awards are following the theme of biodiversity and the Immingham committee, along with throngs of volunteers including schoolchildren from across the town, have secured an area of waste ground they are hoping to turn into a conservation area complete with bird boxes, butterfly houses and hedgehog hotels, which we hope will encourage all manner of wild visitors. “This site will be available to the public to walk around and will also include seating areas and information boards so it’ll be a very interactive experience.
“It’s fantastic to have the support of ABP once again. Their assistance will enable us to be even more ambitious and build on the success of the 2014 awards.”
Mike Sellers, ABP Port Manager for Grimsby & Immingham attended the launch event and explained why it was important for the company to get involved with initiatives like Immingham in Bloom.
He said: “We’re really proud to be a part of the community here in Immingham and we’re equally proud to be supporting what we know will be another successful Immingham in Bloom campaign.
“An initiative like this fosters creativity, teamwork, community spirit and a strong work ethic, but more than that it generates a sense of pride, and by involving schoolchildren and young people we are instilling these important values and giving them an area to enjoy and be proud of.” More than 1,600 cities, towns, villages and urban communities take part in RHS Britain in Bloom each year to show off their achievements in environmental responsibility, community participation and, of course, horticultural achievement.
Above: Head of the Immingham in Bloom committee Cllr Stewart Swinburn celebrates the launch of the town’s campaign with ABP Port Manager Grimsby & Immingham, Mike Sellers and children
from local schools (image courtesy of ABP/David Lee Photography