Flower power reigns supreme in Weymouth as the town was awarded a Silver Gilt medal in the national Britain in Bloom competition.
Particular mention was given to Greenhill Gardens in the category for best municipal gardens.
Working with We Are Weymouth, Dorset Council and local volunteers, the team worked tirelessly to get the town ready for judging in July 2022. Following a different route to 2021 judges saw improvements to the harbourside, hanging baskets, floral boat installations, the Quay regeneration, heritage slabs and a sculpture trail amongst many other elements of the town. With extensive planning, painting and planting the team pulled together a fantastic route to showcase the town, earning the Silver Gilt award.
This national competition recognises communities of all shapes and sizes with a focus on three main criteria: horticultural excellence, environmental responsibility and community participation.
Cllr Tia Roos, Deputy Mayor of Weymouth, said: “It’s been great to work with We Are Weymouth on our second Britain in Bloom entry, and winning a Silver Gilt is a great accolade for the town to be proud of. I would like to thank our parks team for all the work they have put in to ensuring Weymouth continues to be an attractive place for both residents and visitors to enjoy.
“Our gardens were awash with colourful plants that the judges admired stating that Greenhill Gardens were some of the best municipal gardens they’d seen in years! Well done to everyone involved.”
Dawn Rondeau, We Are Weymouth’s Chief Operations Officer added: “We are absolutely thrilled that Weymouth has been recognised in this way by the national Britain in Bloom competition. We didn’t want to show the judges the same route through the town as 2021, we wanted to showcase more and include more of our fantastic levy payers. We are very happy that Weymouth has another feather in its cap – highlighting what a fantastic location it is for locals and visitors alike.
Dawn added “Once again I would like to acknowledge the hard work of Tara Williams and the Parks and Gardens Team at Weymouth Town Council who we worked closely with to achieve this brilliant result as well as the waste management team at Dorset Council who spruced the area up to ensure the route was spotless, and of course the volunteers at Greenhill Gardens and the Peace Gardens. We hope that Weymouth soon becomes known not just for its fabulous beach but also for its harbour, scenic spaces and gardens. We are committed to Britain in Bloom and will continue to enter this competition year on year.”
The 2022 route began at the Peace Gardens meeting the volunteers there. Then the group walked via the Nothe Tavern and the garden steps through the South Harbour via the old town pump and Old Rooms showing the heritage slab installed there plus the baskets and flags in Cove Passage. The group continued over the iconic Town Bridge and took in the regeneration of the South Quay. Next they met Chef Eric at Les Enfants Terribles and enjoyed a cup of coffee before looking at the newly planted pots along the harbourside and the recently installed planted boat.
The judges then enjoyed a trip via the land train to appraise the businesses along the Esplanade and despite a thunderstorm, enjoyed the beach and Brunswick Terrace, plus planted beds along the promenade, ending the tour at Weymouth’s famous Greenhill Gardens.
Since its beginnings in the 1960s, Britain in Bloom has showcased the very best of UK communities in bloom and now encourages community projects and partnerships across the country.
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