Entente Florale - Bristol’s bid for ‘gold’ in Europe

Bristol will soon know if it has beaten off other European contenders and won gold when the awards for the prestigious 2012 Entente Florale are announced in Venlo, Holland on Friday, September 14.

For the first time ever, Bristol is the UK’s city entry in the annual European Entente Florale to find the best places to live, work and visit in Europe. Bristol rightly, has set its sights on winning gold in 2012.

Now in its 27th year, the international competition aims to recognise and celebrate those cities, towns and villages across the continent that actively promote horticulture, tourism and care for the natural environment as part of their social, cultural and economic development.

Earlier this summer, Entente Florale jury members visited Bristol and saw numerous examples of how the city council has worked in partnership with individuals, local groups, community associations and businesses to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. Areas such as clean and attractive neighbourhoods; well-tended parks and gardens; high standards of air and water quality; recycling and reuse of domestic and commercial waste; sensitive regard to local ecology and the environment and how people move about the city were all scrutinised by the jury members during their two-day visit.

“Bristol is proud to the UK’s entry in the 2012 European Entente Florale competition,” says Councillor Gary Hopkins, Bristol’s executive member for environment and community safety. “Thanks to all our partners, Bristol has a gained an enviable reputation for attaining the highest standards, including our successes from being runner-up in the European Green Capital 2014 Award to 11 Green Flag Awards for our parks. As a result, we strongly believe we stand an excellent chance to win gold in Europe in 2012.

“Looking around the city you can see how local neighbourhoods, voluntary organisations and business have worked together with the council to make Bristol a great place to live and work - and a great place to visit too.”