Oswestry Town Council Community Champion

Oswestry Town Mayor, Councillor Olly Rose, has named Natalie Bainbridge as the Council’s first Community Champion of 2024.

Natalie is well known in our community as the chair of Oswestry in Bloom, which is a committee that works tirelessly to improve the visual appearance and quality of life of the locals and visitors to Oswestry. Natalie first became involved in Oswestry in Bloom through entering her own garden and was almost immediately elected as Chair due to the ill health of the previous Chair.

Natalie has taken the group from strength to strength having raised funds herself by delivering ‘In Bloom’ talks and by creating a strong network of volunteers of all ages and abilities that help the town to look its best. Her warm and welcoming personality and commitment of a huge amount of time has provided the necessary catalyst that resulted in Oswestry winning the National ‘In Bloom’ award for ‘Best Large Town’ for the first time in 2023. Natalie would be the first to point out that In Bloom is not only about flowers, but about strengthening community as evidenced by the many groups and individuals who have become involved.

Natalie has also raised over £9000 for charity by opening her own garden to the public as well as selling plants, flowers and produce locally and helping other people with their open gardens. Her aim was to raise money for Lingen Davies as a thank you for treatment she received for breast cancer in 2018. Her beautiful garden has been opened every year since, with monies raised shared between Lingen Davies and Severn Hospice.

Oswestry Town Council would like to thank Natalie for her many years of hard work and dedication. She is an inspiration to us all, a true Community Champion.