Member News
By Baroness Gardner of Parkes - 9th March 2011
Baroness Gardner of Parkes highlights the involvement of more than 200,000 volunteers in contributing to Britain in Bloom.
RHS Britain in Bloom is a unique campaign enabling communities to work across different issues, taking a more integrated approach to community improvement, with horticulture as its foundation.
It operates on different levels based on the size of the community; including the grass roots "It's Your Neighbourhood" scheme, and tackles everything from litter, graffiti and anti-social behaviour, to conservation, sustainability and improving horticultural standards, making a real impact on sense of place and community spirit and pride.
The three core pillars are horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation.
The tangible benefits of the RHS Britain in Bloom are:
- Cleaner and greener surroundings
- Creating a sense of community through improvement of public spaces
- An increase in civic pride and sense of community empowerment
- Safer environments
- Long term improvement for the environment
- Reduction in anti-social behaviour
- Positive effect on the local economy an increase in commercial enterprise and tourism
- Regeneration of run down and/or disadvantaged areas
As a member of the All Party Gardening Group, I visited an RHS project at a school in an underprivileged and much concreted area of London. The pupils, who had never had a gardening opportunity, were most enthusiastic and their lives had been changed by the experience. It gave them interest and satisfaction and created aspiration to grow their own vegetables. Some were aspiring to become chefs.
There are over 2,200 community groups in Britain in Bloom across the United Kingdom with more than 200,000 volunteers contributing hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours.
Local Authorities across the UK have in the past provided essential support for Britain in Bloom, with expert advice, practical support and small amounts of start-up funding. It is vital that this help is continued. Without it, the real benefits to local communities will rapidly evaporate. Volunteers arethe Big Society, they must be recognised, respected and supported for what they do. Cliché of "added value" but that is exactly what they do.
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK's leading gardening charity dedicated to advancing horticulture and promoting gardening. In these difficult times when many people have no real employment, it is important to benefit from developing interests and occupations, especially if these may in due course, lead to job opportunities in gardening or horticulture.
Baroness Gardner of Parkes is a former practicing dentist and served on the Greater London Council for 16 years. She was raised to the peerage in 1981.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.