After a nail-biting wait of 75 days, 12 hours, 30 minutes and counting, Stonehouse in Bloom has been awarded a Silver Gilt in the Small Town Category of the national RHS Community Gardening Britain in Bloom competition 2022.
This is following a Gold and Best Small Town Category win in the Heart of England in Bloom Awards in September.
Five members of the Stonehouse in Bloom team travelled to London on Monday to represent their fellow volunteers and the whole Stonehouse community at the Britain in Bloom awards presentation at the RHS – Royal Horticultural Society headquarters in Vincent Square.
SIB volunteers Lin Powell and Denise Gasan received the award from TV gardener, writer and columnist Rachel de Thame.
Chair of Stonehouse in Bloom Pam Swain said: “We are very proud to receive this award on behalf of Stonehouse in Bloom, Stonehouse Town Council and the people of Stonehouse. Everyone has worked their socks off and the teamwork and community spirit has been inspirational. Well done everyone!”
RHS Judges Roger Burnett and Nick Jones visited Stonehouse on July 26th and toured the town during the morning to see SIB projects and meet community groups and volunteers.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to show the judges everything we have achieved since we started in 2015,” Pam said.
“Stonehouse has won Gold in the Heart of England in Bloom regional competition for the past six years and won Best Small Town in 2018, 2019 and 2022. This year, Stonehouse was one of three places representing the Heart of England region on the national stage and we are delighted and honoured to have done our region proud.”
Stonehouse in Bloom is a volunteer-led group, which is supported by Stonehouse Town Council and numerous community organisations and town businesses. The strength of community spirit has been central to Stonehouse’s success in In Bloom.
“We are immensely grateful to Stonehouse Town Council and to all the many community groups, businesses, and individual residents in Stonehouse who have supported our efforts – especially those who volunteer their time to help us with watering, litter picking, and keeping the displays looking their very best,” added Pam. “This award is for you all and you should be immensely proud of this tremendous achievement.”
Randalstown in Ulster came away with a Gold and the Category win.
Small Town Category Britain in Bloom 2022 Finalists Results:
Stonehouse in Bloom, Gloucestershire – Silver Gilt
Croston in Bloom, Lancashire – Gold
Petworth in Bloom, West Sussex – Silver Gilt
Kingsbridge in Bloom, Devon – Gold
Randalstown, Ulster – Gold & Category Winner
Hale Village London, London – Silver Gilt
Stonehouse in Bloom welcomes new members. So, if you want to get involved to improve your town, get active, meet people
or you just enjoy gardening, then please contact Deborah Curtis at deborah.curtis647580@gmail.com.
