Chance to apply for floral treats to spruce up area

Community groups across County Durham have the opportunity of winning 2,000 bulbs to brighten up their area.

Green-fingered champions across each of Durham County Council’s 14 Area Action Partnerships (AAPs) are in with a chance of securing the floral treats for their community open spaces. Groups entering will need to provide the postcode and details of the area to be planted, together with details of the AAP they are in. The area must be a public space that will brighten up the village or town.

Once areas nominated to receive the bulbs are checked for suitability and ownership, they will be placed on the relevant AAP Facebook page, where they will be voted for by members of the public. The AAPs will use the feedback received to gauge which of their sites they wish to put forward to be given the bulbs.

Planting will take place in October and November with the community group supported by the council’s Clean and Green, Find and Fix and Civic Pride teams. The funding for the bulbs is a direct result of proceeds from the sale of vehicles used in fly-tipping incidents in County Durham.

Cllr Mark Wilkes, the council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for community groups to win bulbs which can then be used to brighten up their area.

“We know how much our residents like to see their communities looking their best so I’d urge any of those interested to nominate themselves to be in with a chance of winning. Best of luck to those entering.”

Nominations can be sent to civicpride@durham.gov.uk and will close at midnight on Friday 24 September. Voting will open on Facebook pages from 5pm on Monday 27 September. Voting will close at 5pm on Friday 1 October.

Further information on the AAPs is available by going to www.durham.gov.uk/AAPs