Lincoln’s city centre could become home to over 300 hanging baskets – a record breaking number – if Lincoln Business Improvement Group realises its ambitious targets for this year’s Lincoln In Bloom initiative.
Speaking at the launch of the Summer-long project, Lincoln Business Improvement Group (BIG) Chief Executive Matt Corrigan said that the aim was to encourage as many businesses as possible to participate in the scheme, which will brighten up Lincoln over the summer.
Mr Corrigan was joined by Sue Gadsby of Gadsby’s, Mark Hollingworth of Flowers By Suzanne and Simon Shaw, managing director of Optima Graphic Design at the official launch of Lincoln In Bloom today (18th April).
“We’ve sent out over 1,000 promotional flyers and details of special offers for businesses which team up with their next door neighbours to get involved in the scheme,” says Matt. “Last year over 100 businesses took part. This year we want 200 businesses to take part, so that the city centre becomes a really colourful and fragrant place. This would be a record breaking number for Lincoln BIG and we’re looking into how many baskets we need to erect to be entered into the Guinness Book of Records for the highest number of hanging baskets to be on show at any one time.”
Gadsby’s in the High Street will be putting up hanging baskets for the eleventh year running. “We really look forward to Lincoln in Bloom,” says Sue Gadsby. “It is great to see the City Centre become so colourful and it does make a difference to our customers.”
Mark Hollingworth of Flowers By Suzanne says that the presence of the fully-maintained hanging baskets does make a difference to trade: “We get so many comments on how nice our shop looks with the baskets outside. I’m convinced we attract extra customers as a result. I really hope other businesses get involved and that we can get Lincoln in the record books.”
Simon Shaw, managing director of Optima, which donated its time free of charge to develop Lincoln BIG’s promotional flyer believes Lincoln In Bloom is essential to attracting visitors to the city and making them feel welcome. “Optima has supported Lincoln in Bloom for the last six years and has been involved with ‘in Bloom’ initiatives in other cities. We are fully behind Lincoln in Bloom. As the city council does not provide financial support for Lincoln in Bloom, it is up to local businesses to take action. For me, Lincoln in Bloom about making Lincoln look fantastic, sending the right welcome to visitors, boosting local economy and lifting people’s spirits and civic pride by bringing vibrancy to our streets.”
Businesses wishing to take part in this years’ potentially record breaking Lincoln In Bloom or wanting to know more about sponsorship opportunities, which include both Broadgate and Wigford Way, should email inbloom@lincolnBIG.co.uk or call Rebecca Potts on 01522 545 419.
-ENDS-
Issued on behalf of Lincoln Business Improvement Group by Lava. For further information please contact Matt, Stuart or Wendy at Lava on 01522 842 800 / 07870 567968 or matt@lavapr.co.uk / stuart@lavapr.co.uk
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