HEREFORDSHIRE gardening groups are celebrating after they won gold in national awards - and celebrity gardener Monty Don says he is "proud" of them.
Hereford in Bloom (HIB) and Leominster in Bloom, which look after many public flower beds, displays and gardens in the county, took home the Heart of England in Bloom awards, with two other community gardens also being recognised.
One of the winning gardens was St Michael's Hospice, where volunteers were recognised for their 1.5 acre plot in Bartestree.
Steve Flack, one of the volunteers, said: "We are delighted to have received this accolade which is a testament to the hard work and time given by all the gardening volunteers.
"This area is relaxing and calming for patients, their loved ones, staff members and volunteers across the charity."
The award was celebrated by Herefordshire-based celebrity gardener Monty Don, who said he was "so proud of all that have worked so hard and given so much" to work on the St Michael's Hospice garden. He has visited the garden several times, offering his advice to the 40 volunteers.
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Kevin Knipe of HIB said: "The hard work and devotion of the volunteers throughout the community have made this happen.
"HIB has gained a gold award for 2023 - a great result for the handful of volunteers who meet weekly to keep the city flower beds in good repair throughout the year.
"This year Hereford has also been awarded two discretionary awards. Firstly to St Michael's Hospice, a place where a garden provides a quiet, reflective space for patients, their families and hospice staff, and secondly to St Thomas Cantilupe Academy, who were awarded for an impressive stand against the pollution affecting the river Wye with their "stories of change" project.
"This is the first time Hereford has received three awards and is a great uplift for the city."
Cynthia Partridge of Leominster in Bloom, which also won gold, said: "We are very pleased to be awarded a gold award again for Leominster. This makes five in a row."
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