The results of South and South East in Bloom have been announced and Farnham has come out top with a string of gold awards.
Farnham in Bloom was awarded Gold and crowned regional category winner in both the town centre and large town categories. Badshot Lea Cemetery improved on last year’s Silver Gilt with a Gold award in the Small Cemetery category and West Street received Silver Gilt in the Large Cemetery category.
The judges awarded gold accolades to the Bishop’s Meadow Trust and Victoria Garden. In the It’s Your Neighbourhood category, space2grow and Victoria Garden were presented with awards for being Outstanding and Hale Community Centre’s Get Growing Gardening project was awarded for progressing from Advancing in 2018 to Thriving in 2019. Victoria Garden completed their hat trick when they were honoured with the Chairman’s award.
Councillor Sally Dickson, Lead Member for Community Enhancement was at the awards and said: “Waiting to hear the judges’ verdict on Farnham in Bloom was a tense moment but I feel overjoyed and extremely proud of the result. These awards belong to everybody who has taken part in a litter pick, supported a Bloomin’ Kids workshop, volunteered to take part in an In Bloom activity or been involved in one of the wonderful community organisations that strive to improve our environment.
“Farnham in Bloom reaches every village and neighbourhood in the Farnham area. The flowers bring pleasure to residents and visitors and the broad range of In Bloom activities have such a positive impact on those who take part.
“It is only through the hard work, dedication and support of our volunteers, staff, sponsors and the community that we have been able to achieve this magnificent result. I give my warm congratulations and thanks to everybody who has been involved and in particular, I would like to give special thanks to our sponsors and especially The Farnham Institute Charity who came on board this year as our new Principal Sponsor.”
Although judging took place in July, work has already started on Farnham in Bloom 2020. Earlier this month volunteers planted on 13,500 plug plants for winter displays and in October they will plant daffodil bulbs in roadside verges and at prominent junctions. Anybody who knows of an area that would benefit from some spring colour should email their suggestion to lara.miller@farnham.gov.uk.
As well as having entered South and South East in Bloom, Farnham is also competing for gold in Britain in Bloom. The results of the national competition will be announced on 25 October.
South and South East in Bloom Awards 2019
Town Centre category – Gold and category winner
Large Town category – Gold and category winner
In Your Neighbourhood
Hale Community Centre’s Get Growing Gardening project – Level 4 Thriving
Victoria Garden – Level 5 Outstanding
Space2grow – Level 5 Outstanding
Large Conservation Area category
Bishop’s Meadow Trust – Gold
Small Cemetery category
Badshot Lea Cemetery – Gold
Large Cemetery category
West Street Cemetery – Silver Gilt
Small Park of the Year category
Victoria Garden – Gold
Chairman’s award – Victoria Garden
