Record number of Britain in Bloom golds
26 September 2011
Cricklade, in Wiltshire, has been named this year’s Champion of Champions at the RHS Britain in Bloom Awards.
A record 20 gold medals, along with 36 silver-gilts, 19 silvers and 1 bronze were awarded to the 76 finalist communities, who celebrated at the RHS awards ceremony on 25 September hosted by TV presenter Rachel De Thame. The event was attended by 500 community and gardening champions.
A number of discretionary awards were also given to communities and individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their commitment to the campaign.
Chair of the RHS Britain in Bloom UK Judging panel, Roger Burnett, led a team of 12 RHS judges who toured the UK in August visiting the 76 UK finalists, nominated from more than 1,000 participating communities to represent their region/nation in the UK finals. The judges assessed against three key criteria:
- horticultural achievement
- community participation
- environmental responsibility
Roger said: ‘My fellow judges and I noticed this year that many communities are facing even greater challenges than ever before because of financial conditions, political changes, civil unrest and that’s not even to mention the unpredictable British weather!
'But we are extremely pleased to have seen many communities using RHS Britain in Bloom as a solution and really pulling together as a group of volunteers, as communities, to move forward, facing down everything from a tornado to damage from rioting. No matter what the challenge, these finalists have been determined to make their communities better places in which to live.’
Martin Troughton, Marketing Director at Anglian Home Improvements, said: ‘The standard has been very high and the judges have been impressed by the drive and accomplishment of the finalists. Each and every volunteer should be extremely proud of helping to make this year’s RHS Britain in Bloom another phenomenal success.’
Volunteers clock up 4.4 million hours!
This year, more than 200,000 volunteers from across the UK collectively invested 4.4 million hours (equivalent of more than 500 years) of their free time to the campaign. The awards ceremony celebrates the efforts of more than 1,000 communities that have made the UK a more beautiful, clean and environmentally friendly place to live.