Newcastle-under-Lyme is celebrating after securing Gold and winning the Business Improvement District (BID) category for the third consecutive year at the Heart of England in Bloom awards.
The LoveNUL in Bloom entry, led by Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Improvement District in partnership with Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, also received the discretionary Landscape Award, while local historian Jim Worgan received the Chair’s Award for his contribution to sharing and preserving the borough’s heritage.
The awards follow the regional judges’ visit on Wednesday 29th July, when businesses, volunteers, community organisations and council teams came together to showcase the work helping to create a cleaner, greener and more welcoming Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Beginning at Brampton Museum and concluding in Queen’s Gardens, the judging tour highlighted planting schemes, heritage projects, public art, community safety initiatives, markets and cultural activities, alongside the regeneration helping to shape the town’s future.
The Landscape Award recognised the Council’s move from traditional annual bedding displays towards more sustainable planting, including mixed shrubs and herbaceous perennials.
Judges highlighted a decade of work to redesign major roundabouts around the town centre, alongside improvements to the area known locally as the Bear Pit. They also praised changes introduced in March 2025 to town centre planters, raised beds and approximately half of the formal planting beds in Queen’s Gardens.
Describing the transition as a “brave move”, judges said the planting “looked stunning”, recognising the work to maintain colourful, attractive public spaces through a more sustainable approach.
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