Celebrating multiple wins at the South East in Bloom Awards 2019
Inspero is thrilled to announce our remarkable achievement of winning three awards at the 2019 South East in Bloom Awards. We proudly maintained our Gold standing for horticulture and Forest School work and achieved an Outstanding Level 5 award from the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) for our Kempshott community garden beside Stratton Park.
A surprise honour: The Chairman’s Award
The most unexpected and prestigious accolade was the Chairman’s Award, recognising Inspero’s outstanding contributions to the Basingstoke community.
Chief Executive Catherine Waters-Clark shared the team’s amazement, saying, “We couldn’t believe it when Chairman Peter Holman started describing our projects, mentioning Love2Grow and other familiar initiatives, and then announced Inspero as the winner. Competing against large organisations with million-pound horticulture budgets, we were overjoyed and truly humbled.”
Gratitude for our incredible volunteers and supporters
These achievements would not be possible without our incredible volunteers, including our young, enthusiastic members who work tirelessly to support our community garden and Forest School programmes. We are deeply grateful to our supporters, neighbours, and corporate partners like Fujitsu, Visa, Lilly UK, and De La Rue for their invaluable contributions.
Special thanks to NCS and The Prince’s Trust
Our thanks also extend to NCS National Citizen Service students who joined Inspero for hands-on community work, many of them experiencing volunteering for the first time. The Prince’s Trust Basingstoke team was instrumental in supporting new developments in our community garden. Attending their graduation ceremony was a moving experience, filling us with hope for the future.
Building community and well-being through horticulture
Over the past seven years, we have witnessed the powerful role that horticulture, nature, and community involvement play in people’s well-being. In a bustling town like Basingstoke, our projects foster a sense of community, promote physical activity, and improve emotional, mental, and physical health. They also provide access to locally grown organic food.
Looking ahead: expanding our community garden
Inspero is now working on an exciting new phase, developing an outdoor kitchen and cooking garden area with a dedicated Forest School section. We invite the community to join us in creating this outdoor classroom by donating time, resources, or materials. Together, we can inspire local people, especially young people, to reach their full potential and become conscientious global citizens.
