What’s happened to Stansted in Bloom this year? is a question some have raised with SMPC over summer.
The competition has run out of organisers is the simple answer.
Taking a break
In 2021 there was talk by the people behind that year’s SiB to narrow the focus of the event — more emphasis on gardens, less on public spaces and council involvement. By 2022 that idea had fallen away, taking its backers with it.
A new committee stepped in and put together a successful competition, but decided 2023 should be a fallow one to recharge the organisers’ batteries. Two years on, the number of SiB committee members has dwindled to the extent that the task of running SiB and pulling together the village entry to Anglia in Bloom rested on the shoulders of one person.
Understandably they felt there weren’t enough hours in the day to do both well.
One event too many
As AiB is not just a more established, prestigious horticultural event, but also provides a better opportunity to shout about the brilliant work local organisations do beautifying the village, it was felt that SiB should be the competition to be shelved.
Obviously as unavoidable as this is, not being able to put on SiB is a shame.
Both 2021 and 2022 were bumper years for the competition.
Stansted is blessed with so many pretty gardens, and many residents are rightfully proud to show them off. So it would be great to hear from you if you are interested in helping resurrect the competition in 2025.
Any fresh ideas?
If you have ideas on what’s the best way to take SiB forward, why not get in touch? We would love to hear from you.