‘Innovative’ and creative designs have landed Sidmouth’s volunteer gardeners their best result in four decades at this year’s Britain in Bloom competition.
Sidmouth walked away with two awards plus gold in the champion of champions’ category after being pitted against the best in the UK.
Fellow South West entrant Truro was named the winner at the ceremony last Friday, but judges said Sidmouth’s floral features were something seldom seen in the UK.
Sidmouth also received the ‘Gardening in a Changing Climate’ discretionary award for its new sensory garden and Sidmouth in Bloom chairman Lynette Talbot took home a Community Champion Award for her efforts.
Lynette said: “We have done extremely well. It is certainly the highest achievement for a very long time. Everyone should be proud of what they have achieved. I have a fantastic team who work really hard to maintain the standard that we want. We never give up and we keep going.”
The chairman said the achievement could not have happened without support from its committee and supporters, town and district council and financial support from local organisations. Sidmouth in Bloom will face a new challenge next year competing for the first time in South West in Bloom’s large seaside town category but the group say they will be working hard to maintain their high standards.
Lynette said: “What we are aiming to do is to work on all of the existing sites, keep improving Blackmore Gardens and the sensory garden, we want to keep up the work we are doing and work more with children. It is a showcase of the town. It’s important that Sidmouth maintains its floral heritage. If we do not have that floral heritage then people will not visit the town.”
Fellow in-bloom member Peter Endersby added: “Having reached this high level and having for up here visitors are expecting us to have this high standard maintained. It’s a shame we didn’t bring home the cup but when you realise you are in the top six, it’s pretty rare.
“To get up to the top six and maintain it is going to be a continuous effort, we are going to keep the standard up.”
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