'Green' city wins a finals place

Nottingham's greenery has put it on the map

Nottingham will represent the East Midlands in the 2007 Britain in Bloom contest after winning the Best Large City gold award for the region.

The victory is Nottingham's 16th in the past 17 years.

In addition, the city has won a Royal Horticultural Society special bio-diversity award.

Caroline Elmhirst from the Nottingham in Bloom team at the city council said everyone was already looking forward to next year's competition.

Camellia House

"Next year's competition will be exciting for us because we're in Britain in Bloom, so we've got the nomination through to the national competition," she said.

"I think one of the main things for us is obliviously we've got a new Market Square to look forward to and a new Camellia House at Wollaton Park.

"So some really exciting projects are under way and Nottingham's going to be a different city this time next year.

The initiative aims to make cities cleaner and greener places to live in, work in and visit.