Derry has taken the top accolade in the “Small City” category of the prestigious Britain in Bloom Awards.
A view of the Queens Quay walkway which has been transformed by the Pride in Our City initiatives. Photo: Lorcan Doherty Photography.
Derry was awarded the Gold Award at the awards ceremony held in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire at which a number of towns in the North, including Scarva, Ahoghill, Bangor and Hillsborough, celebrated as a region in picking up five awards in total.
Derry Mayor Cllr Martin Reilly said he was delighted the city gained further recognition with the award.
He said: “This award is acknowledgement of the hard work of Derry City Council’s Ground Maintenance and Street Cleansing Sections who work extremely hard year round to provide the eye-catching, vibrant horticultural displays which have created a colourful, attractive and clean streetscape around the City, and is particularly significant this year as we celebrate our year as City of Culture.
“Formally recognising how fantastic our city looks, this Gold Award further signifies the widespread consensus from both our citizens and visitors that the Pride in our City Initiative is clearly working.”
He concluded: “After many years of competing at a national level, it is momentous that 2013 is the year this is formally recognised and the Gold Award is well deserved.”
The award for the city was presented to Derry City Council’s Ground Maintenance Manager, Danny McCartney and Cllr Sean Carr, chairperson of Environmental Services.
Mr McCartney said: “We are still overwhelmed with the news and delighted to receive this recognition that confirms the regeneration of the city has been acknowledged with this level of a national award” said Danny McCartney after the event.”
He concluded: “I want to thank my dedicated team at Derry City Council and all those who participated on the judging day whose help and support in the overall Pride in Our City campaign each year has led to this Gold Award.
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