Queen to give royal seal of approval to Shropshire groups

Shropshire Horticultural Society, The Friends of the Robert Hughes and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital and The Friends of Apley Wood will be presented with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

The award is the group equivalent on the MBE, and each organisation had to meet the high standards set by the judges.

Shropshire Horticultural Society has organised the annual Shrewsbury Flower Show – recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's longest running Flower Show in one location – since 1875.

The two-day event attracts thousands of visitors from around the country, and through the proceeds millions of pounds have been donated to charities, as well as bursaries being awarded to students of horticulture in further and higher education.

Stephen Kynaston, chairman of Shropshire Horticultural Society, said: "Winning such a prestigious award is a great compliment to all those involved with the organising and running of the annual flower show – particularly the trustees who, as members of the general committee, give their time freely throughout the year to plan and stage the show.

"The success of this event also relies greatly on the support it receives from our stewards, without whose continuing support there could not be a show. To stage such an event year after year is testimony to the tremendous amount of hard work undertaken by everyone involved and for that we are most grateful and appreciative."

Victoria Sugden, spokeswoman for the League of Friends of the Robert Hughes and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, said they were delighted to have been chosen to receive the award.

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service is an annual award made to recognise and reward excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community. It was announced in 2002 as part of celebrations for The Queen's Golden Jubilee, and was first known as The Queen's Golden Jubilee Award.

It is given for outstanding achievement by groups of volunteers who regularly devote their time to helping others in the community, improving the quality of life and opportunity for others and providing an outstanding service.

Groups must be nominated and nominations are then assessed by a regional committee before being passed to a national committee for final selection and recommendation to the Queen.

The winning groups will receive a certificate signed by the Queen and a commemorative piece of crystal, presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Sir Algernon Heber-Percy, later this year.

Rob Wilson, minister for civil society, said: "I would like to congratulate all groups who received this year's Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, in recognition of their fantastic achievements."