MALVERN in Bloom’s 2010 efforts are up and running following the group’s first meeting of the new campaign.

Steering group members met at the Malvern Town Council chamber, in Belle Vue Terrace, to start making plans for the year ahead.

Malvern will once again be entering the large towns category of the Heart of England in Bloom competition, and chairman John Jordan is hoping to repeat the success of this year, which saw the town receive its first gold award in that section.

As ever, efforts will not just be centred on the main town entry, with Mr Jordan keen to drum up even more support for the neighbourhood awards category, which allows small communities and groups to enter for judging.

Last year, Malvern submitted a massive 14 neighbourhood award entries, and Mr Jordan has set an ambitious target of 20 entries for 2010. Three new entries have already come forward.

These are Malvern Youth Centre, in Albert Road North, the Wilderness Garden in Elgar Avenue and Hastings Residential Home, in Barnards Green, where Malvern Lions Club will be joining with Age Concern to create a sensory garden, water feature, flower beds, a wildlife area, and a fruit and vegetable garden.

“To get 14 entries last year was excellent, and I hope that everybody will be going forward again this year,” said Mr Jordan.

“I am hoping we can get to 20 entries, which would be fantastic.”

Mr Jordan also reported that he has been in contact with Angela Pendleton, the Heart of England judge responsible for Neighbourhood Awards, who has said that she would be willing to come to Malvern and talk to all potential interested parties about what an entry entails.

Anyone who is interested in getting involved with Malvern in Bloom, or entering the neighbourhood awards, is asked call Mr Jordan on 01684 566760.