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Best Kept Communities back by popular demand

Published: 31/03/2016

This year’s Best Kept Communities Competition, organised by Flintshire County Council, is a tradition which goes back almost twenty years. This hugely popular competition has grown and evolved - where it once concentrated on beautiful blooms and flowers, it now also encourages growing plants and flowers which help the environment and encourage wildlife. Preparations are well underway already and communities are encouraged to enter one of the five categories: · Best Kept Village/Community under 1000 population · Best Kept Village/Community over 1000 and below 5000 population · Best Kept Town Centre (over 5000 population) · Best Kept Senior Citizen Estate · Best Kept Community Garden/Wildlife area The current Chairman of the Council, Councillor Ray Hughes, who hosted last year’s award ceremony in September, said: “This competition has gone from strength to strength, especially with entries from schools and in the wildlife/community garden section. The Council is delighted to facilitate this event, but it wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our sponsors including Airbus, Toyota, Clwyd Alyn, Grwp Cynefin and Warwick Chemicals. As the competition grows, we are looking for other sponsors to help secure the future of this popular event, even a donation of £100 could make an incredible difference to one of our local communities.” The aim is to encourage as many people of all ages to get involved in improving their local environment. Previous events have shown that the competition brings people together and contributes to making Flintshire a better place to live and work. Martin Fry, Specialist from Toyota, said: At Toyota, we are committed to working with and enhancing the communities in which we operate and in which our members and their families live. We have supported this competition for many years and continue to do so. The competition is an excellent example of the impact we can all make within our local communities by joining together to take part. The participation of so many groups and individuals to improve their own area is very commendable. Events such as this struggle to survive without external sponsorship, Toyota are happy to be associated with this very successful event. Airbus Government Affairs Executive, Steve Thomas, said: “Airbus supports many activities in the local community, but we are especially keen to support opportunities that help the local community to become actively involved in enhancing the local environment, which is why we are delighted to support this competition. “The judges say the standards in the competition keep increasing, so much so that they have difficulty picking winners – the effort, community spirit and pride in our local villages that this event arouses is tremendous.” If you are interested in taking part, it’s not too late to enter – the closing date is 27 May 2016. Do you have an area you would like to bring back to life but don’t know where to start – don’t worry, help is at hand. You can contact your local town or community council, your local Streetscene Co-ordinator on 01352 701234 or Jan Kelly on 01352 702301 or JanetKelly@flintshire.gov.uk. Likewise, if you are a business interested in getting involved with sponsorship, however small, please contact Jan for more details. Any contribution will help ensure that this competition can continue and grow. Sponsors are acknowledged on publicity material and are invited to present prizes at the Awards Evening which will take place at County Hall on Friday, 9 September 2016.