Farnham Town Council has been awarded five top prizes at the South and South East in Bloom (SSEiB) awards, including the best in category for Large Town. The competition chair also described Farnham as the most floral town across the entire region.

“This has been a very successful year for Farnham in the South and South East in Bloom awards as we won top prizes in all of the five categories we entered,” says the Mayor of Farnham, Councillor Alan Earwaker. “Badshot Lea Cemetery received a gold award and was also named as the best in its category. West Street Cemetery received gold, too. The judges particularly praised our entries for the abundance and quality of our floral displays which they said were the best that they had seen this year.”

Farnham received gold for Gostrey Meadow, the town centre and Farnham as a whole for the Large Town category. In addition, Victoria Garden won Gold in the Small Park category. In the It’s Your Neighbourhood category, Badshot Lea Bloomers and Hale Community Centre were recognised as ‘Thriving’ and space2grow and Victoria Garden received awards for being ‘Outstanding’.

“Judges described the level and quality of our community involvement as a ‘real strength’ – something that all of us involved in the project would agree with. Judges were also impressed with how well we had adapted our planting and maintenance to the incredibly hot and dry summer and with how we have continued to develop environmentally sustainable practices throughout Farnham in Bloom,” says the Mayor.

Farnham Town Council and the Farnham in Bloom Community Group were especially proud this year as SSEiB chose Farnham to host the official regional awards. Representatives from cities, towns and villages across the south and south east of England flocked to Farnham Maltings on 23 September to hear the 2022 results following a nervous wait since the judges conducted their visits in July.     

Peter Holman, Chairman of South & South East in Bloom said: “The awards were a great success and enjoyed by all attending from the six counties of our region. South & South East in Bloom is indebted to Farnham Town Council and Farnham in Bloom for hosting the awards and their support throughout. The awards were also made possible by the sponsorship from The Patio Black Spot Removal Company Ltd.”

Farnham in Bloom is organised by Farnham Town Council and relies on a team of dedicated staff, an army of volunteers and sponsorship from over 100 local businesses and individuals led this year by principal sponsor, The Patio Black Spot Removal Company Ltd. In their feedback, the judges commended the astonishing level of community involvement in Farnham in Bloom, highlighting the volunteer and business input as a major asset which resulted in wider benefits for the town.