Village gearing up for prestigious Entente Florale competition
A large group of local residents attended an information evening in Ballinahown last week ahead of the village representing Ireland in the prestigious Entente Florale in July. Entente Florale is a Europe-wide competition which aims to promote the sustainable development of European towns, villages and cities to enhance the quality of life of citizens.
Ballinahown Development Group (BDG) in association with Westmeath County Council is preparing for the event, and BDG member Helen Conneely said that there are no major additional projects planned ahead of the adjudication but they are focused on “editing and tidying the existing facilities” in the village.
Ms Conneely said that they are also hoping to plan events like an outdoor market and other community events ahead of the jury visit in July.
She added that Ballinahown is the smallest village participating in the awards with a population under 200, whileother entrants can have a population under 5,000. The village will focus on sustainable development ahead of the competition.
Ballinahown is one of eleven participants taking part in the awards scheme this year and local people are very hopeful of a positive result.
Every effort will be made to ensure the village is presented to the highest possible standard in advance of the visit of the international jury planned for Saturday, July 13. The international jury team will carry out an ‘in situ’ assessment of the village. The presentation of awards will take place in the city of Szekesfehérvár in Hungary on September 7.
Through this annual competition public authorities, private and voluntary bodies and individuals, are encourage to co-operate in beautifying their towns and villages by the planting of trees, flowers and shrubs, by the development and maintenance of green spaces and parks and by generally fostering development which is ecologically and environmentally sensitive.
The Entente Florale Europe awards scheme is the means through which the Association Europeenne pour le Fleurissement et le Paysage (AEFP) achieves its aims. AEFP is an international, non-profit association which was founded in 1996 in Brussels. The overall aim of the Association today is the social and cultural development and enhancement of the quality of life of urban and rural dwellers in Europe, primarily through landscape development and sustainable environmental enhancement.
The association organises Entente Florale Europe in order to promote a greener and more pleasant environment in European towns and villages and to establish international contacts among the participants.
The international jury assesses the candidate towns and villages according to criteria based on the following considerations: quality of landscape and vegetation, seasonal and permanent planting of flowers, trees, shrubs, respect for landscape and landscape policies, promotion of biodiversity and ecologically friendly maintenance and management, quality of natural and built environments including climate change mitigation, waste management, water management, heritage, quality of streets and buildings and cleanliness.
Participation and cooperation by local bodies and organisations. The contribution and role of local statutory authorities, education and schools-ecology and green dimension and attractiveness and presentation, tourism and leisure policy are also examined, along with information and communication to locals and to the public at large.
The awards based on overall marks achieved, range from bronze, silver or gold metal plaques.
This year, there will be a number of special awards offered for outstanding achievements in particular areas of the awards scheme.
For more information visit www.entente-florale.eu.