Washington Village shows off its 'flower power' for competition judges - Sunderland City Council

Washington Village is excited to have the Britain in Bloom judges visiting as they mark the 60th year since Washington was established.

The village is competing against eight others from different parts of the UK in the Best Village category of Britain in Bloom. It is representing the North East region from Berwick to North Yorkshire and Cumbria border.

Washington Village has achieved success in the competition before, winning the Best Village award and being crowned the overall winner of Northumbria in Bloom in 2021.

Today, a group of 20 volunteers greeted the judges in a 1960's-inspired 'Flower Power' event. This was a way to celebrate Washington's 60th anniversary, as well as the 60th anniversary of the Northumbria in Bloom and Britain in Bloom competition.

The dedicated group of volunteers from Washington Village in Bloom have been working hard with support from the City Council. Additional help has come from volunteers working towards their Duke of Edinburgh awards and volunteers from Barclay's Bank. Together, they have been planting vibrant flower beds in hopes of impressing the judges who will be visiting soon.

Joan Atkinson, who leads the Washington in Bloom organization, mentioned that they have received additional help from volunteers this year. She also noted that Sunderland City Council has been very supportive by assisting with watering the flower beds and keeping the streets clean of litter.

Certainly, we wouldn't be able to do any of this without our amazing Washington in Bloom volunteers who eagerly take on any task that comes their way. They work tirelessly all year round, from removing leaves in grassy areas to tending to borders and organizing events to raise funds for purchasing plants for our beautiful displays.

"This year, our village has been selected to participate in the RHS Britain in Bloom Competition, which is a great honor as only eight villages in the UK have been chosen. It is truly amazing for us to represent the North East in this competition. Additionally, this year marks the 60th anniversary of Washington New Town and also the 60th anniversary of Britain in Bloom. To celebrate, our volunteers will be dressing up in 60's clothing for our 'flower power' judging day."

People from the organizations that have assisted in getting the village ready also came to the event this morning to greet the judges. Local companies that have backed the group are showcasing artwork from local students following the theme of 'flower power'.

Beth Jones, the councillor for the Washington Central ward and a member of the Sunderland City Council's Cabinet for Communities, Culture and Tourism, commented about the beauty of Washington Village during the summer season. She praised the vibrant flower displays in the village, attributing them to the dedicated efforts of the volunteers from Washington Village in Bloom. Jones also acknowledged the cooperation between council staff, businesses, schools, and residents in making the village look stunning. She expressed her hope that the judges would recognize and appreciate the hard work put in by everyone involved.

All the people who help take care of the village should feel proud that Washington Village has been chosen as one of only eight villages to be nominated. I hope they do well when the judges make their decision.

Washington Village will discover if it has won in different categories of the Britain in Bloom competition during an awards ceremony at the RHS headquarters in London on Monday 21 October.