Date published: 2023-10-09 | Category: Leisure, Tourism and Heritage, Delivering for local residents, Environment and Clean Air
Bath has once again triumphed at the prestigious Southwest in Bloom competition.
The Bath In Bloom committee scooped gold in the small city category and was awarded the Southwest in Bloom Tourism Trophy Cup as part of the accolade.
The committee is supported by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s parks team and Bath BID who all work together to ensure floral displays look stunning across the city for residents and visitors to enjoy.
However, horticulture only accounts for 40% of the overall marks, with community effort by volunteers making up an important 30% and the remaining 30% for environmental measures such as wildflower meadow planting and bird box installations.
Steve Brook, Chairman of Bath in Bloom, said: “This award is well deserved and wouldn’t have been won without all of the different organisations and individuals pulling together. Bath entered the very first UK-wide Britain in Bloom competition in 1964 when we won gold and since then, we have been the most successful entrant in the national competition winning ‘Best Small City’ 15 times - and the Southwest in Bloom regional title 25 times. Together we are all making a difference for this beautiful city of ours.”
Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “In Bloom inspires us all to work together to improve where we live. It’s fantastic news that Bath has once again shone in these prestigious award categories and it wouldn’t be possible without the support the committee receives from volunteers. Congratulations to everyone who has contributed to these wins.
“Congratulations must also go to local organisations who also scooped awards including The Old Crown at Kelston which won the best floral pub in the Southwest, with charity More Trees for BANES winning the ‘most outstanding contribution to the environment’ trophy and Westfield School in Radstock picking up two awards for their environmental efforts.”
Allison Herbert, CEO of Bath BID, said: “We are always delighted to work with the Bloom team of volunteers who show such dedication in making the city green and flourishing. This year the BID invested in 50 baskets provided by Bath Parks team as well as other planters across the city centre. We were also delighted to provide plants for a team of city centre volunteers from local companies to plant in the urns along Parade Gardens. This type of shared activity is exactly what the RHS is rewarding in its competition.”
Sponsors of Bath In Bloom this year include Cross Engineering, Wessex Water, Mogers Drewett Solicitors, Monahan’s Accountants, Midford Manor Care Home, Mayden, and the Charter Trustees of the City of Bath.
Local awards also include:
- the Community Orchard in Corston - best outstanding specific project and awarded third place by the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) for best environmental project.
- Walcot St in Bath - third place for ‘Art in the Community.’
- Milsom Place in Bath - Gold in the business category
- 16 of the 19 It’s Your Neighbourhood (IYN’s) community groups run by volunteers were awarded the highest standard of ‘Outstanding’, while the other 3 achieved the second highest standard of ‘Thriving’.
- The ‘Portfolio’, a report written by Bath in Bloom for the judges to showcase what is done in Bath throughout the year, again was nominated as one of the ten best portfolios submitted.
Find out more about Britain in Bloom
The council will soon be installing a contactless donation point at Bath’s Botanical Gardens to support the work of all the volunteers and partners in keeping the gardens looking the best they can.
Find all the parks and green spaces in Bath and North East Somerset at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/find-park-or-green-space
ENDS