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East Leeds village aims for floral glory
Volunteers in an east Leeds village are putting the finishing touches to floral displays they hope will soon be acclaimed the best in the land.
Barwick-in-Elmet is bidding to win the large village category in this year's Britain In Bloom awards.
Click here for a full run down of the 20 YEP community sites launched around Leeds to date.
A dedicated band of volunteers helped Barwick-in-Elmet win the large village section in the Yorkshire In Bloom competition last year, earning it the right to represent the county in this year's national contest.
Judges were visiting the village today to run the rule over its colourful flower beds and hanging baskets.
John Tinker, Barwick In Bloom committee chairman and a former parks director with Leeds City Council, said: "It's an honour to be taking part and it's thanks to all the work put in by people in the village that everything looks so good.
"We have about 15 to 20 volunteers who work throughout the year. They do the preparation, planting and maintenance. There are another six who do a great job on both churchyards."
Efforts to improve the village through floral displays started about 10 years ago with the planting of some bulbs.
Since then the initiative has grown and Barwick is now recognised for the quality of its displays.
Coffee mornings and concerts are organised to raise money for the bulbs and other materials and the organising committee also receives sponsorship from individuals and companies in the village.
Mr Tinker, who last month was awarded an MBE for services to the community, said: "We will be up against tough competition in Britain In Bloom and we hope to do well, but the main aim of all our work is to make the village look more attractive and if we win anything then it's a bonus."
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Weather for Leeds
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
