A united community effort to make Farnham bloom has been rewarded at the South and South East in Bloom awards ceremony, which was held on Wednesday in Brighton.

A year-round effort from Farnham Town Council and unstinting commitment from volunteers, schools and community groups resulted in the presentation of a further five top awards.

Farnham town centre scooped gold for the fourth year running and was crowned overall gold winner for the Large Town category. Gostrey Meadow and The Victoria Garden walked away with Gold and the Victoria Garden received outstanding, which is the highest award possible in the Champion of Champions, It’s Your Neighbourhood category.

Speaking after the presentation, Councillor Stephen Hill, Lead Member for Farnham in Bloom said: “I am thrilled that the hard work of so many people has been recognised with the award of so many gold honours for Farnham. The judges praised the ‘very committed people’ and volunteers involved. I am extremely grateful to our sponsors and in particular, our main sponsor Hamptons International. I would also like to offer my congratulations and thanks to everybody who has been involved for all they have done to make the town and surrounding villages so visually appealing and a joy to visit.”

In their feedback, the judges stated how impressed they had been by the number of blooms around the town, which ranged from street colour themed hanging baskets and planters to secret gardens. The judges complimented the carpet bedding in Gostrey Meadow, which celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of Britain in Bloom and praised the involvement of the community.

The gold awards presented at the South and South East in Bloom awards ceremony are in addition to the gold awards achieved this summer by the Abbey School and Badshot Lea Infant School and the best school in Surrey award also earned by Badshot Lea Infants.

The results of Farnham’s entry in Britain in Bloom will be announced in October.