DEEP roots were celebrated as a town launched its bid to be the best blooming community in Britain. This year s Stevenage in Bloom project was officially launched at the King George V playing field Millennium Gardens last week with the theme of local roo

DEEP roots were celebrated as a town launched its bid to be the best blooming community in Britain.

This year's Stevenage in Bloom project was officially launched at the King George V playing field Millennium Gardens last week with the theme of local roots.

The gardens, designed to represent the history of the Great North Road through Stevenage, were the perfect setting for a series of plays by Year 2 pupils from Woolenwick Infant School who dressed in period costume to describe life in Roman, Medieval, Tudor, Victorian and modern times.

Members of the Stevenage in Bloom forum, executive councillor for community and culture Sue Myson and the mayor Graham Clark all listened intently as the children took them on a whistle stop tour of the past.

Woolenwick teacher Lisa Crawley said: "The children have been learning about Stevenage through the ages and doing little plays so we presented those in the historically-themed gardens today. They really enjoyed doing it."

Describing his ambitions for the competition this year, Cllr Clark, said: "It's something Stevenage should be very proud of. Lots of people work very hard towards it for a better quality of life for all the people of Stevenage. I'm sincerely hopeful we'll get the gold this year."

Garden judge and former best garden winner, Joan Brown from Drakes Drive, said: "It's not just about flowers but also the whole appearance of the town. It's about recycling and combating graffiti and litter as well as our beautiful roundabouts. This year we have included quite a few new categories. It's just growing and growing."

This year's categories include Best Front and Back Garden, Best Wildlife Garden, Best Pub, Best Road or Street Display, Best Allotment and Best Young Gardener.

The closing date for entries is June 20 and judging will take place during July.

Britain in Bloom was first held in 1963 and has been organised by the Royal Horticultural Society since 2002.