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Community Channel has commissioned a new documentary – Britain in Bloom - which debunks the common myth that gardening competitions are just the preserve of hanging baskets, fancy planting and picture postcard villages.
Continuing its partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society, the Channel commissioned Media Trust Productions to produce the 1x40 min documentary, which will broadcast in September.
Offering a uniquely urban snapshot of this year’s Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom 2007 competition, the documentary follows the progress of two contenders: Beeston in Leeds and Rugby, meeting the people who are attempting to plant the seeds of success in their neighbourhood.
Organised by the Royal Horticultural Society and the largest campaign of its kind in Europe, the scheme encourages communities of all sizes, from small villages to large cities, to join forces, roll up their sleeves and get involved in creating greener and cleaner local environments.
Beeston is a finalist in the Urban Community Category. In this inner city neighbourhood, a cross-section of the local community is working to transform the area.
Rugby is a finalist in the small city/large town category. Various municipal and private activities are the benchmark of this scheme, which includes more unusual projects like a newly sculpted storytelling tree.
Britain in Bloom was commissioned by Nick Ware, Controller of Community Channel, and executive produced by Adam Perry, Community Channel’s Head of Programmes and Campaigns. The programme is executive produced for Media Trust Productions by Jane Stephenson and Nicci Crowther.
Nick Ware, Controller of Community Channel comments, “This is the third successive year that Community Channel has covered the Britain in Bloom competition and I’m delighted that we are once again working with the RHS on their unique scheme that reaches out to every corner of the UK. This programme celebrates the grass roots of the campaign and focuses on two finalists who are both determined not only to transform their neighbourhoods, but also to foster a real sense of community spirit and civic pride”.
Catherine Haynes, RHS Head of Community Horticulture, says “The Community Channel has a remarkable reputation in reaching out to communities so we’re excited to be working closely with them again this year to show how the Britain in Bloom Campaign breathes new life into the towns, cities and villages of the UK. We want more people to watch this fantastic documentary and realise that this is something that everyone can get involved with in their local community.”
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For further information please contact Penny Crook at Community Channel on 0207 874 7651, pennyc@communitychannel.org, or Rachel Lailey on 0207 874 7098, rachell@communitychannel.org
Notes to Editors
Community Channel is dedicated to engaging audiences with the charitable and voluntary sector, showcasing stories and issues that inspire action and encourage involvement. Broadcasting original shows, the best of terrestrial TV and showcasing the work of new directors and community programme makers, Community Channel is the place for real-life stories from communities around the world. The channel is a free-to-air TV station available to 16.5 million digital households in the UK. Around 1.2 million people tune in every month (source: BARB) and we receive more than 12,000 responses a week from viewers.
About Britain in Bloom:
RHS Britain in Bloom is the largest horticultural campaign in Europe. It encourages people to create long-lasting improvements to their local environments through high levels of cleanliness and the imaginative planting of trees, shrubs and flowers. For further information about RHS Britain in Bloom go to www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom, or contact Renee Dodds in the RHS Press Office on 020 7821 3657 or email: reneedodds@rhs.org.uk
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