Durham awarded best small city and gold in community gardening competition
Gardeners in County Durham and Northumberland were delighted as Northumbria triumphed in Britain in Bloom. Community gardeners took home a top prize and a haul of medals at the Royal Horticultural Society’s awards ceremony in Belfast.
Durham won the small city category, winning a gold medal. Morpeth and Ponteland in Northumberland also clinched gold and Tanfield in County Durham earned a silver gilt.
All battled what judges have declared the toughest year on record with communities fighting to keep blooms alive. The four finalists followed success in Northumbria in Bloom the previous year. They competed against 76 groups from across the UK in 12 categories. Here are the 2019 Northumbria in Bloom results.
Northumbria triumphs in Britain in Bloom – Durham’s creative floral displays
Durham competed against Derry in Northern Ireland, Rochdale and Shrewsbury to take the top title. They impressed judges with their creative floral displays, horticulture and community partnerships. They included the cathedral, city centre roundabouts and Wharton Park.
Morpeth wowed with vibrant planting at Sanderson Arcade. Wildflowers and a restored floral clock with a working mechanism scored highly in Carlisle Park. Ponteland, on the edge of Newcastle, picked up marks for its “wonderful” community spirit, sensory garden and poppy display to commemorate the First World War centenary.
First-time finalist Tanfield celebrated its achievements over the past five years, thanks to the community’s “infectious enthusiasm and passion” for their village.
Achievement after terrible weather conditions
Finalists scored marks on their horticultural achievement, community participation and environmental responsibility. RHS judges visited communities from the end of July after months of hot and dry weather.
Darren Share, chairman of the RHS Britain in Bloom judges, said: “This year’s finalists faced the most challenging conditions the competition has ever seen, with much of the country under snow and ice at the start of spring, followed by the joint-hottest summer on record. That so many groups have walked away with top medals is remarkable and a reflection of communities’ hard work, ingenuity and horticultural know-how.”
The Northumbrian finalists collected their awards from Chris Bavin, presenter of BBC Two’s Britain in Bloom. See the full results here: www.rhs.org.uk.
Read all about saving Durham’s trees in the Millennium Seedback.
