Date:

04/10/07

Camden’s “outstanding” commitment to conservation has scooped four prestigious London in Bloom awards for the borough.

Green fingered residents, businesses and the Council achieved the silver award overall and also picked up three special awards – the London in Bloom biodiversity award, second place in the public parks and open spaces award for Cumberland Market and the Royal Horticultural Society bloomin’ wild award.

Judges regarded the Council’s attention to sustainability, conservation and diversity as “outstanding” and particularly noted the “high standard of cleanliness, lack of litter and minimal graffiti”.

Mayor of Camden, Cllr Dawn Somper, was delighted to receive the awards at a special ceremony at the Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. She said:

“This is wonderful news for Camden. It’s a tribute to all the hard work staff, residents, community groups and local b usinesses put in to make our parks, nature reserves, open spaces and gardens look so good.”

Cllr Flick Rea, Executive Member for Culture, said:

“Camden’s parks and open spaces play a vital role in improving the quality of life of those who live and work in the borough. It’s fantastic to have won so many awards. Congratulations to everyone involved.”

The biodiversity award is made to the borough whose residents, communities and parks support wildlife and create and manage habitats to attract new wildlife and species into the area. Camden parks, open spaces and nature reserves are home to many rare species of wildlife including newts, bats and insects and include plants and habitats that support and encourage new species into the borough.

London in Bloom is a campaign to create a lasting improvement to London's environment, organised by the Royal Horticultural Society. Open to all London boroughs, the awards promote ecological and sustainable co nservation and education, as well as horticulture, clean streets and parks. The 2007 awards were presented on 21 September 2007.