The importance of the RHS Britain in Bloom competition to hundreds of communities is revealed in a series of programmes, 'Wars of the Roses', being aired on BBC Radio 4.

 

Throughout the 2008, presenter Wesley Kerr has been visiting communities in big cities to small villages to see how they have battled to do their best at raising horticultural standards, beautifying their local environments and winning medals.

 

In the first programme competitors from across the country meet up with their rivals at the National Seminar in Scarborough and winners and judges offer their tips on who to get a gold medal.

 

Wesley also visits Taunton to see how local initiatives are improving the town. Schools, council estates, parks, police, apprentices and young offenders all take part proving that the competition is much more than just hanging baskets.

 

Further episodes meet up with the RHS Britain in Bloom judges at a secret meeting in Horsham where they set in place their judging critieria, and relive the nervous wait for the 69 communities at the finalist’s gala evening at Chester racecourse in September.

‘I've got to know the RHS and its wonderful shows well over the last few years, but Britain in Bloom has always been a bit of a mystery; not least because it's quite a complex competition,’ said Wesley.

‘Throughout the year I've seen what an amazing difference it makes to a thousand communities all over the country, how it brings people together and how it can be an agent for regeneration. I've also seen how a town's efforts can be diminished if one of the local stakeholders won't co-operate.'

‘In 30 years of assignments, rarely have I had one which involved meeting so many dedicated (but sometimes eccentric) people. People worry about Britishness but Britain in Bloom is an exemplar of the UK's beating heart.’

 

Useful information

 

The first programme in 'Wars of the Roses', is at 2.45pm on Sunday 16 November. This is followed by programmes at the same time on 23rd, 30th and 7th December.