COMMUNAL work in the aftermath of Storm Desmond has received national recognition as a South Lakeland town received a top award in the Britain in Bloom contest.

Competing against nine nominees around the country, Kendal was awarded a Silver-Gilt in the Large Town category for the community work and improvements undertaken in the aftermath of the December floods.

Key members of Kendal Town Council and their partners attended the awards ceremony held at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham.

Cllr Lynne Oldham, the chair of the Kendal in Bloom Committee, said: “It’s been an honour to be part of the team and community who have put in so much hard work during this challenging year. I am so proud to have received the award on behalf of Kendal. Well done and thank you to everyone involved.”

The Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom committee is one of Europe’s largest horticultural campaigns, a nationwide community gardening movement to transform cities, towns and villages.

More than 1,600 cities, towns, villages and urban communities take part in Britain in Bloom each year to show off their achievements in environmental responsibility, community participation and horticultural achievements.

Cllr Stephen Coleman, the mayor of Kendal, said: “Congratulations to everyone in Kendal that has helped achieve both of our awards. We look forward to future years and to achieving even higher success.

“We would especially like to thank our partners, South Lakeland District Council, Continental Landscapes and Horticare, who all worked extremely hard with us to present Kendal to the Britain in Bloom judges.”

Assessed in August, two Britain in Bloom judges, Mel Henley and Jim Goodwin, were taken on a tour of Kendal, where they were shown the work done following the December floods and impacts of the flooding.

The judges were given a tour of the floral displays in and around town, visiting Horticare, Castle Park School, Sedbergh Road allotments, the Castle Green Hotel, Shap Road and the surrounding areas which were badly affected by the floods, as well as Abbot Hall Park and the Peace Garden.

At the time the judges seemed very impressed by the displays, community initiatives and the resilience of the people of Kendal.