Farnham Town Council said a big thank you to the army of volunteers who contributed to the success of this year’s Farnham in Bloom at an awards ceremony (on Thursday 11 October).

The annual awards began with presentations to local schoolchildren and were followed in the evening by the community awards.

Recalling this year’s highlights, Lead Member for Farnham in Bloom, Councillor Stephen Hill said: “Farnham in Bloom is the success that it is because so many volunteers come together to work really hard and our business community steps up to support them. It’s our privilege as the Town Council to enable all of that to happen.

“It was a pleasure to see so many volunteers at the awards and to be able to personally thank many of them with prizes. Whether you received a prize or not, if you have volunteered for Farnham in Bloom this year, I would like to thank you sincerely on behalf of the town for your contribution and encourage you to join us again in next year’s activities.”

The award categories reflect the breadth of work that goes into Farnham in Bloom, including fun projects that encourage children and families to join in, alongside those that challenge accomplished gardeners. Categories included the best hanging baskets, best allotment plot, best gardens (of varying sizes), the tallest sunflower, the best shop front, the best wildlife garden and South & South East in Bloom Certificates of Excellence.

Over 120 awards were presented with Val and Doug Nye receiving the Mayor’s Special Award for all their volunteering in the Bourne Beautification Group, Frank Rhodes won Gardener of the Year and the new Madge Green Community gardening Award was presented to space2grow which is a local community project that aims to improve mental health and well being.

Many of the sponsors, including principal sponsor Specsavers from Farnham, came to the prize giving and some presented prizes. Sponsorship, both financially and in-kind is a key part of maintaining the scale of Farnham’s entry to the In Bloom competitions and keeping the quality so high. Nearly 100 local businesses, organisations and individuals support the project and Farnham Town Council is always keen to partner with local businesses.

Lateef Iqbal, store director from Specsavers in Farnham said: “We have thoroughly enjoyed our sponsorship of Farnham in Bloom over the last two years and it has been an honour to play our small part in seeing the campaign go from strength to strength.

The local community takes great pride in our town – and as a retailer, it is important we back these types of initiatives to ensure the high street looks and feels like a desirable destination for locals and people further afield. With this in mind, I would like to thank all the amazing individuals who made 2018 a very memorable and successful year for Farnham in Bloom.”

The Mayor of Farnham Councillor David Attfield hosted the awards ceremony which was held at Squire’s Garden Centre. Guests were treated to canapés and refreshments and took the opportunity to mingle and chat about this year’s entry which resulted in 14 awards for the town and surrounding villages in the South and South East in Bloom and the Britain in Bloom awards.

This year’s prizes were awarded as follows:

Allotment Awards 

Presented by Sarah Squire and the Mayor of Farnham 

Best Allotment Plot on Alderley Road Allotment Site – Malcolm Swain

Best Allotment Plot on Farnborough Road Allotment Site – Mike Nicholls

Best Allotment Plot on Morley Road Allotment Site -Christina Williams

Best Allotment Plot on Shepherd and Flock Allotment Site – Amanda Main

Best Allotment Plot on Six Bells Allotment Site – Robert & Angela Page

Best Allotment Plot on West Street Allotment Site – Sue & Norman Ware

Best Allotment Plot on West Street Extension Allotment Site – Clive & Sue Russell

Best Allotment Plot on Wrecclesham Allotment Site – Liz Thomas

Best Newcomers Plot 2018 – Nazrul Islam

Best Overall Plot across all Farnham Town Council Allotment Sites 2018 – Amanda Main, Shepherd & Flock Allotment

Tallest Sunflower Award – Gerard Nicholson on Alderley Farm allotment

Largest Pumpkin Award – Ann-Marie Pease on Alderley Farm allotment

Best Scarecrow Award – Highly Commended – John Martin on Six Bells Allotment

Bronze Award- Liz Thomas on Wrecclesham Allotment

Silver Award – Sue & Norman Ware, on West Street Allotment

Gold Award – Pippa & Richard Gray on Wrecclesham Allotment

Secret Garden Awards 

Best Front, Back or Small garden category presented by Sarah Squire & Cllr Stephen Hill

Commended – Leona McMyn

Highly Commended – Alfonso Capone, David Pink, Mel Sefton, Pam Epps and Peter Clark

Very Highly Commended – Jane & Sally McGinty and Lorna Sutherland

Bronze Award – Nick & Susan Green

Silver Award – Donald Larby

Gold Award – Sheelin & John Hemsley

Best Large Garden category presented by the Mayor and Charles Wisden of Forest Lodge Garden Centre

Bronze Award – Lionel & Clare East

Silver Award – Anthony Hill-Reid

Gold Award – Max & Kate Lyons

Best Hanging Basket or Container category presented by the Mayor and Charles Wisden of Forest Lodge Garden Centre

Commended – Beaver Colony in Hale and Sarah Desborough

Highly Commended – Nick & Susan Green, Sheelin & John Hemsley and Vivienne Gardiner

Very Highly Commended – Anthony Hill-Reid, David Pink, Lionel & Clare East, Ian & Beryl Webster and Jane Ward

Bronze Award – Mel Sefton

Silver Award – Pamela Raubach

Gold Award – Brenda Guyver

Best Public House presented by Cllr Stephen Hill and Sarah Squire 

Commended – The Fox and The Mulberry

Highly Commended – Shepherd & Flock and The Queen’s Head

Bronze Award – The Nelson

Silver Award – The Jolly Sailor

Gold Award – The Hop Blossom

Best Shop Front Category sponsored by Specsavers Farnham. Presented by Darren Fagg and the Mayor of Farnham

Silver Award –Lavender Hill Company

Gold Award – Classical Floral Designs, Borelli Yard.

Best Courtyard presented by Gold sponsor Simon Essex from The Patio Black Spot Removal Company 

Commended – David Pink and Tony Ashmore

Highly Commended – Ian & Beryl Webster and Vivienne Gardiner

Very Highly Commended – Clare Newby

Bronze Award – Christine Sargent

Silver Award – Jonathan Durham

Gold Award – Sue Ware

Best Business Premises category sponsored by Specsavers Farnham and presented by Darren Fagg and the Mayor of Farnham

Gold Award – The Farnham Maltings

Best Wildlife Garden presented by Sarah Squire and the Mayor of Farnham

Silver Award – Vivienne Gardiner

Gold Award – Ian and Beryl Webster

Gardener of the Year – Frank Rhodes

Bloomin’ Litter Volunteer of the Year Award sponsored by Squire’s – Robert Kates

South & South East in Bloom Certificates of Excellence presented by the Mayor and Cllr Hill

Bishop’s Meadow Trust

Blooming Art

Bourne Beautification Project

Bourne Conservation Group

Farnham in Bloom Community Group

Farnham Rivers

Get Growing @ The Hale

space2grow

The Dance Movement (Farnham Blooming)

The Otter Wey

The Victoria Garden

The Madge Green Community Gardening Award

space2grow!

Mayor’s Special Award 

Val and Doug Nye