Plymouth’s waterfront looked it’s best for In Bloom judging

Plymouth’s Waterfront, from Royal William Yard to the Barbican and the Hoe, was looking its best as it welcomed the South West in Bloom judges yesterday.

Plymouth Waterfront Partnership Business Improvement District (PWP BID) has led the entry into the BID category for the 2021 South West in Bloom initiative, a regional heat of the renowned Britain in Bloom competition.

A huge amount of work has been done by the BID in the run-up to the judging, with the support of the Plymouth Waterfront in Bloom organising committee and the local community.

This includes the installation of 19 new planters filled with 2,000 trailing petunias along Southside Street. The planters themselves are now decorated with brand new signage, including information boards and art by local schoolchildren. The flowerbeds in Basket Ope have also been transformed with beautiful new blooms.

As well as introducing some extra flower power to the Barbican, PWP has been working hard to improve the Waterfront, making sure it looks its best for both visitors and locals to enjoy this summer. This has included:

• Installing stunning new tree lights at Exchange Street Car Park
• Supporting art installations and improvements at Bretonside, with new murals on Moon Street and North Street
• Installing a new monolith containing useful visitor information outside Royal William Yard
• Developing a ‘Community Payback’ programme which has resulted in painting and cleaning in Elphinstone car park, High Street and around the Mount Batten peninsula
• Installing new lights in the Leviathan (also known as the Barbican Prawn) sculpture, which is now illuminated at night.

In Bloom judges at the Mayflower Steps

Diane Mansell, Chief Executive of PWP, said: “We’ve been working hard with our partners in the public and private sectors to ensure that the Waterfront is looking fantastic. We’re really proud of the improvements that have been made, and have worked hard to ensure they’re sustainable and have a lasting impact, fostering local pride in the area.

“The aim of entering the In Bloom initiative is to establish and maintain a high quality, attractive environment for everyone who shops, works, visits or lives in the Waterfront area. We were delighted to welcome the In Bloom judges to Plymouth on such a beautiful, sunny day and would like to thank everyone who played a role in making sure the city was ready for their visit.”

The In Bloom judges arrived at Royal William Yard before being taken by boat to the Barbican. After exploring the area, they were escorted by open top bus to Plymouth Hoe, where the tour concluded.

Councillor Nick Kelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council said: “We’re proud to work closely with Plymouth Waterfront Partnership to maximise everything the waterfront has to offer. As the jewel in the city’s crown, it’s so important to ensure that it’s clean, tidy and offers a fantastic welcome for visitors and locals alike. The entry into the South West in Bloom initiative has been a great driver for even more improvements in the area.”

The South West in Bloom winners will be announced later this year.