AN upper dale village’s high altitude and late blooming spring bulbs may give it the edge in an environmental competition.
Middleton-in-Teesdale enjoyed success in the annual Northumbria-in-Bloom competition last year by winning gold, despite suffering in the spring judging because of late snowfalls.
However, this year conditions have been ideal and the spring bulbs were in full bloom when three judges rolled into the village last week.
And they were impressed.
Judge Sue Featherstone said: “It is fantastic and very pretty. The spring flowers are gorgeous.
“When I first drove in the daffs were incredible.”
In the week running up to the judging a litter-pick, which included members of the parish council, the local women’s institute and Middleton-in-Bloom organisers, was arranged to ensure the village was at its tidiest.
During the judging, organisers explained what had been done throughout the year, including planting additional daffodils on the village green and new areas that had been improved. They also explained their recycling habits.
A significant recent development had been the Friends of Middleton-in-Primary School group which had organised a “ground force” day to improve the school gardens.
Pam Phillips, of Middleton-in-Bloom, said: “We are going to try to help them with that.”
Following on from the spring judging, organisers will be back again for the summer judging later in the year.
