Representatives from over 40 entries were in attendance at the Tunbridge Wells Assembly Rooms last Thursday afternoon for the South East in Bloom awards ceremony. Sponsored by Southern Water, this exciting afternoon saw the biggest and best awards ceremony yet.With Duncan Goodhew lending his support to this prestigious event a large crowd gathered to hear the long-awaited results of the South East in Bloom’s horticultural competition.
Delegates were delighted to learn that Rye had, yet again, been awarded Overall Winner of the Best Small Town in the South East of England category. A further award was also made to Rye for the ‘Best Environmental Initiative’. This was for the Water Festival run by Rye in Bloom at the Strand Quay in May and hailed as a wonderful example of a water awareness event.
The South East in Bloom judges also presented the group with ten Certificates of Excellence for individual displays in Rye and these will be presented by BBC Gardener’s World Presenter, Sarah Raven, at the Rye in Bloom awards ceremony next month.
The South East in Bloom judge’s report showed that they were “impressed with the overall quality of the private gardens, the business community’s input and very specifically the bloom volunteer’s efforts in achieving high standards of cleanliness and a successful marketing campaign”. They did however point out that areas that could be improved in the future were “replacing displays of plastic flowers with ‘real plants’ in public places, providing planting/screening at recycling sites and improving local authority contribution towards floral efforts in public places”.
The Rye in Bloom committee would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to this campaign by planting, sponsorship and contributions of time and effort.
The Britain in Bloom awards ceremony will take place at The Royal Armoury in Leeds on 23rd September and representatives from Rye in Bloom will attend. This event is televised and will be shown on BBC2 on Friday 1st October as a one hour special Gardener’s World programme.
Rye in Bloom representatives Sue Manktelow and Lorna Hall with Duncan Goodhew at the South East presentations
“Rye’s New” October 2004
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