THERE will always be those who see Mansfield's participation in 'Britain in Bloom' as a waste of time and money. Thankfully, they are now in a minority.
Because it would be really worrying to think that no-one cared about the appearance of the town and wider district, or appreciated the enormous difference the current efforts make.
Nevertheless, it has to be accepted that some critics are not conv
inced. Even when Mansfield, as winner of the East Midlands in Bloom competition 'Small City' category, has now received a prestigious Silver Gilt Award in the largest competition of its kind in Europe, being selected from more than 1,000 other entrants.
In our book, this is a tremendous achievement, as it's about much more than the colourful floral displays that everyone notices.
Community involvement, the cleanliness of the town centre and recycling initiatives were also among the important factors that ticked all the right boxes on the judges' score cards.
The District Council and its staff in particular deserve much of the credit for the vastly improved image that Mansfield has gained over the years through participation in the 'bloom' initiative.
But there is a danger that people still feel this means they don't need to get involved; that others will 'sort it'.
Not so. There is room for plenty more input from individuals, groups, organisations, businesses, shops, stores, schools and colleges on a year-round basis.
Encouraging this, and sustaining it, has to be the big challenge now.
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