MAJOR changes are planned to the project that annually puts Ludlow at the top of the tree.

Winning gold has become a habit for Ludlow and Bloom but for 2017 there will be major changes.

The Ludlow in Bloom campaign is not just about making the town look and smell good but is about helping to attract visitors that play such a big part in the local economy.

But having set the bar high the Ludlow in Bloom group faces constant pressure to retain its gold status and so has come up with a revolutionary play to keep the town at the top of the tree.

Last year the town won its tenth successive gold in the Heart of England in Bloom awards.

It marked a remarkable achievement for the volunteers behind the Ludlow in Bloom group.

The result means that Ludlow has won gold on 12 of the 14 occasions that it has entered the competition.

In the first year the group was awarded bronze and after a few years of achieving gold there was a silver but since then it has been a continual ‘gold rush.’

Under the new plan 2017 will also put an emphasis upon the food and produce that is also very important to bringing visitors to Ludlow.

The clock is ticking and it is April but, working in private, the seeds have been sown for this year’s Ludlow in Bloom.

There will be a big difference this year, gone are the usual summer flowers and enter the incredible edibles.

To celebrate the enjoyment of growing your own fruit and vegetables at home and making plants free to pick in public places for everyone to share, this year’s displays will be given over to glamorous and fun edible plants of all shapes and colours.

But the organisers are pleading with people to resist the temptation to take a bite at least until the judges have done their work.

“We are hoping to impress the judges with edible plants and flowers in planters around town, also involving local schools who will be growing their own for planters outside Ludlow College,” said Viv Parry who leads the Ludlow in Bloom group.

The initiative is being undertaken in conjunction with the ‘Incredible Edibles’ group.

“We have been busy deciding on the most attractive and tasty edibles for this year’s all important judging in July,” said Polly Bolton of the Incredible Edibles Group.

“A long list has been drawn up that includes purple podded beans, nasturtiums, purple basil and calendula. There’s around ten local people that have been recruited to grow alongside local schools and community groups.”

Last year the Incredible Edible group planted 15 apple, pear, cherry and damson trees in public spaces around Station Drive, in another year or two they will be bearing fruit for all to pick and share.

The Incredible Edible project is part of Ludlow 21 and joins in with a nationwide initiative that started in Todmorden in Yorkshire with the aim to inspire people to grow their own or just pick for free. Ludlow 21 are committed to developing environmentally sustainable activities for the town.

Judges will visit Ludlow on Wednesday, July 19 and the results will be announced in September.