June 2025
We are delighted to have supported the Middletons in Bloom initiative as the community prepares to mark the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway later this year.
As part of our commitment to enhancing the areas where we build, we made a financial contribution towards the cost of plants and bulbs, as well as providing a significant amount of topsoil for planters to help brighten up Middleton St George ahead of this important heritage milestone.
Middletons in Bloom is a voluntary group of passionate residents from Middleton St George and Middleton One Row, who dedicate their time and energy to enhancing the village’s natural beauty and community spaces.
Each year, the group enters Middleton into the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Northumbria in Bloom Awards – a regional initiative that celebrates horticultural excellence and community involvement. Volunteers and community partners are now working together to make a lasting impression on the judges.
Hazel Bullock, chairperson of Middletons in Bloom, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Story Homes for both their monetary support and donated soil. The contribution has helped us add even more colour and life to key areas of the village ahead of what is a really important year for Middleton. With both the bicentenary and Northumbria in Bloom judging on the horizon, the support of local organisations makes a real difference to what we can achieve together.”
This latest support builds on the housebuilder’s wider contributions to the local community, including a £15,000 payment made last year to the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. That funding is being used to help conserve and interpret key features of the historic railway line, which runs close to Story Homes’ Ashwood Grange development in the village.
Kye Bradley, North East Sales Director at Story Homes, said: “We’re proud to support Middletons in Bloom and contribute to the fantastic work being done by volunteers across the community. With the upcoming railway bicentenary and Northumbria in Bloom judging, there’s a real sense of local pride in Middleton St George – and we’re pleased to play a part in that. Supporting local heritage and community-led projects is a key part of our approach as a responsible housebuilder.”
Ashwood Grange is Story Homes’ recently launched development in Middleton St George, offering a collection of high-quality three, four and five-bedroom homes. Ideally located in a semi-rural setting with excellent commuter links, the homes feature flexible modern layouts, bi-fold doors, and fully turfed gardens – all designed with quality and character in mind.
For more information about Ashwood Grange, please click here.
