As the 70th anniversary celebrations of Stevenage’s foundation as a new town get under way, more details are beginning to bloom about the exciting range of events that are being held to mark the landmark birthday.

This weekend the celebrations get going in a big way with Stevenage Day at the King George V playing fields on Sunday.

This promises to be bigger and more spectacular than it has in previous years and will see the return of the Rock in the Park event with two music stages to blast out a whole range of music by local performers.

But there’s much more to come. Last week we reported how two ladies from Stevenage won a prestigious best in show award at the Chelsea Flower Show with their striking flower arrangement of a sea maiden impressing expert judges.

And these very same ladies will be bringing their considerable talents to bear by helping organising a flower festival for the Stevenage at 70 celebrations.

Florists Miriam Hill and Sue Papa will get out their scissors again to design flower arrangements depicting Stevenage New Town for the Stevenage Flower Festival at St Andrew and St George church on Saturday and Sunday, June 18 and 19.

Margaret Brett of the Stevenage Floral Art Society said: “It’s going to be a wonderful celebration.

“The whole church will be filled with flowers.”

Town councillors and businesses have sponsored the event which will be set up by members of Stevenage Floral Art Society and South Stevenage Flower Club.

Flowers will be crafted to reflect Stevenage’s cycle ways, the lakes at Fairlands Valley Park, the landmark clock tower and the Gordon Craig theatre .

The event runs from 10am to 5pm on the Saturday and 12 noon to 6pm on the Sunday and will culminate with a special Churches Together songs of praise at 6.30pm.