Bracknell

Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s cultural and visual environment officers have been shortlisted for the prestigious open spaces management team of the year award by magazine Horticulture Week.

The magazine's annual awards recognise the best in achievement, ability and performance across the entire British horticulture industry. The winners will be announced in London's Hurlingham Club in October.

When nominating itself, Bracknell Council said the team - which includes parks and countryside and landscape services - aims to encourage members of the public to go outdoors and enjoy the borough’s varied open spaces.

Their work also includes events such as educational games for children and walks and talks for adults, winning three Green Flag awards, working with partners on site-specific projects and being awarded additional funding - including two £1million Heritage Lottery Fund grants for the restoration of Lily Hill Park.

Officers from the department manage 80 parks, and each year, cut the equivalent of 64 million square metres of grass, grow 90,000 bedding plants and maintain more than 600 hanging baskets, 400 troughs, and 20 flower towers.

Additionally this summer, officers have worked to preserve water supplies, using careful planting and watering regimes and special gels in the soil which retain fluids so the popular hanging baskets could be maintained in Bracknell town centre.

Helen Tranter, Head of Culture and Visual Environment, said: We have an highly skilled and motivated team that work well together here in Bracknell Forest who work hard to maintain all of our superb open spaces.

”Just being shortlisted is a reflection of the care and attention made by our teams to ensure Bracknell Forest remains an attractive environment we can all enjoy.”

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Bracknell Leisure and Corporate Services, said: The staff and officers from our parks and countryside and landscape services work hard all year round to give us, weather permitting, parks and open spaces to enjoy and be proud of.

"Hearing about the shortlisting so soon after retaining our three Green Flags shows just how well our open spaces are managed in Bracknell Forest. I wish them every success when the winners are announced in October.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council