Volunteers celebrate trio of awards

For a third year running, volunteers from Southwick Village Green Preservation Society, who work alongside the Southwick Altogether Raising Aspirations project (SARA), are celebrating being recognised in the awards.

The team won 'Silver Guild' and 'Best in Category' in the Urban Community category, as well as Best New Entry for the entire Northumbria in Bloom competition.

Washington Village was also a winner, scooping the gold award in the Village category of the awards.

This is not the first time the volunteers have been recognised in the prestigious awards - Washington Village has had previous successes, being named Best Overall Entry for the past two years.

Last year Southwick Green also won 'Outstanding' in the 'It's Your Neighbourhood' category of the awards and 'Thriving' in the same category the previous year.

This year the Judges were impressed with Southwick Green's floral display and the work the Southwick Village Green Preservation Society has done to fundraise, design and install historic blue plaques and historic interpretation panels on Southwick Green.

The team of around 20 volunteers has also planted flowers around the war memorial and installed six new plant boxes to the west of the green.

The plants were funded by Sunderland City Council's North Area Committee and donations from Sunderland Home Grown Community Interest Company, who also provide advice on planting.

Councillor Alex Samuels, the Councillor Ward Representative for the SARA Project, said: "Over the last three years the volunteers working on Southwick Green have done an absolutely brilliant job of planting bulbs and flowers to keep the community flowerbeds looking amazing all year round, and really brightening up Southwick Green.

"Their hard work is helping to improve the look and feel of the area and I'm proud to see them recognised in the Northumbria in Bloom awards for a third year."

Councillor Claire Rowntree, Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Clean, Green City said: "We can all be proud of the volunteers across our city who work hard to make the areas where they live look beautiful and vibrant. Once again, they have done the city proud in the Northumbria in Bloom awards and its brilliant to see them being rewarded for all their hard work. 

"These awards are also a great example of partnership working in action with volunteers working with council staff to help the city look its best."