The Municipality of Chatham-Kent received a 5 Bloom rating and a special mention for Preservation of Natural Sites by Volunteers during the 2014 National Symposium and Awards Ceremonies in Charlottetown, PEI. The Municipality of Chatham-Kent participated in the International Challenge (Large) category along with Sarnia ON and The London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames, England.
In July, trained volunteer judges travelled to participating communities to evaluate the overall contributions of municipal council and departments; industry; businesses and the private sector – including volunteer efforts – in regards to the following criteria: Tidiness, Environmental Action, Heritage Conservation, Urban Forestry, Landscape and Floral Displays.
Following their evaluation, volunteer judges Jim Baird and Berta Briggs wrote: “The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is a community of a variety of settlements and extensive agricultural production in a unique geographic zone of Southern Ontario. The dedicated membership of the Sydenham Field Naturalists in a partnership with The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority and many donors and volunteers have taken over properties, including the Peers Wetland and Sycamore Woods. Peers Wetland is carefully being restored to a wetland, a tall grass prairie along with the planting of 5000 native trees and shrubs. Sycamore Woods was rescued from loggers and is now being preserved and restored with careful understory plantings. Not only are these areas being preserved and rehabilitated, it has signage and trails to provide visitors with information and a great educational experience”.
Within the actual context of climate changes and environmental concerns, communities involved in the program can be proud of their efforts, which provide real and meaningful environmental solutions and benefit all of society.
For a complete list of the results and the electronic copy of the Communities in Bloom magazine, please visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca.
About Communities in Bloom
Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with focus on the enhancement of green spaces. The pride, sense of community and feeling of accomplishment generated through participation are visible in communities across Canada. For more information about Communities in Bloom, visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca.
