Bloom News 5: Green Giants, win prizes and more

Giant sculptures for a clean green city

Giant topiary-like sculptures have been installed in the Old Market Square for the summer – an eye-catching artwork to celebrate Nottingham’s clean, green credentials and to encourage shoppers to help keep it that way.

The sculptures, made by Notts company Shipshape Arts, have been commissioned by Nottingham City Council and Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID). They depict a grandmother and grandson sweeping, and encourage people to consider: “If every man would sweep his own doorstep and look after his local green space, the city would be even cleaner and greener.”

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Two more new sculptures to spot!

The floral trail is back in the city centre – complete with two new wicker sculptures designed by local children.

A pair of theatre masks thought up by Millie Fenton from Clifton and a Teddy bear designed by Mya Murden from Bulwell were chosen as competition winners to join the floral trail.

Spot the Teddy just off the Old Market Square, not far from the Brian Clough statue.  The Theare Masks are outside the Theatre Royal.

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Tweet a selfie to win a prize

Don't forget there are prizes to be won by tweeting a selfie with one of the 15 wicker sculptures on the floral trail, which is organised by Nottingham City Council’s Nottingham in Bloom team and the Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID).

The award-winning Floral Trail has been a key part of the city’s summer landscape for four years, helping to make Nottingham attractive during the summer months.

The sculptures represent ways of enjoying yourself in Nottingham or something that can be bought in the city. The new theatre masks and Teddy bear join 13 other sculptures: a handbag, shoe, perfume bottle, jacket, dress, hat, ring, teapot, champagne bottle, guitar, coffee cup, cupcake and an ice-skate.

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Neighbourhoods in Bloom

Look out for floral displays arriving in your area of the City over the next couple of weeks.  The Nursery has been busy planting up about 100 square planters and more than 300 barrier troughs to make the neighbourhoods bloom.

Fifty green neighbourhoods

Fifty groups across the city have entered the 'It's Your Neighbourhood' awards - a non-competitive scheme run by the Royal Horticultural Society to celebrate the work of people who are making their area a greener, cleaner and friendlier place to live.  They include community centres, streets, sheltered housing schemes and community gardens.

Volunteer assessors - including Horticulture students from Nottingham Trent University's Brackenhurst campus - will visit each group in July.