Farnham Town Council is celebrating what may well be its best result yet in this year’s South and South East in Bloom competition.

The town netted four gold awards, was the winner in three categories and won a special award for biodiversity.

This year’s campaign was, in theory, a year of consolidation following two retirements and a job move for an experienced member of the team. However, the new team rose to the challenge and made their mark on Farnham in Bloom’s 2018 entry with a number of new activities and creative planting schemes.

Commenting on the result, Councillor Stephen Hill, Lead Member for Farnham in Bloom says: “I am absolutely thrilled for everybody who has been involved in this year’s campaign. Every year, we see more and more people taking part in Farnham in Bloom activities ranging from community litter picks and free gardening workshops for children, to people sponsoring hanging baskets or entering one of the many gardening-related competitions. Thanks to a performance by children from The Dance Movement and projects run by community artist Jo Aylwin, we’ve seen how the arts can be seamlessly incorporated into Farnham in Bloom.

“It has been said before, but it is true that Farnham in Bloom is about so much more than flowers – it’s about engendering pride, new skills and knowledge and making our town and villages better places to live. I would like to thank all our sponsors and give a special mention to Corporate sponsor Specsavers Farnham and Gold sponsors Forest Lodge Garden Centre, Graduate Landscapes, Squire’s Garden Centre, The Farnham Institute Charity, The Patio Black Spot Removal Company Ltdand Wild Flower Turf Ltd for their valuable support and the positive legacy their contributions have given to the people of Farnham.”

The judges of Farnham in Bloom gave Farnham a special biodiversity award in recognition of projects that encourage wildlife to live and thrive alongside people. Projects such as those carried out by Bourne Conservation and the Bishop’s Meadow Trust are ongoing and implemented over several years. In 2018, new wildflower plantings at Hickley’s Corner and West Street Cemetery supported pollinators.

The results for Farnham in Bloom and the community groups are as follows:

Large Town – Farnham in Bloom: Gold and Category winners

Town Centre – Farnham in Bloom: Gold

Small Cemetery – Badshot Lea Cemetery: Silver Gilt and Category winner

Large Cemetery – West Street – Silver Gilt

The Biodiversity Award sponsored by Bourne Amenity – Farnham in Bloom

County Winner Surrey – Farnham in Bloom

Small Park – The Victoria Garden: Outstanding

Large Conservation Area – The Bishop’s Meadow: Gold and Joint Category winner

It’s Your Neighbourhood Awards:

• The Victoria Garden – Outstanding
• Get Growing @The Hale bungalow, Farnham – Advancing
• space2grow, Farnham – Advancing

For more information about Farnham in Bloom, watch the video showing some of the 2018 Farnham in Bloom projects.