KENDAL has been named pick of the bunch at this year’s Cumbria in Bloom competition, winning the title of best large town for the third year running.

The announcement was made at the eagerly-awaited awards ceremony, hosted by Strikes, last Thursday (September 4) at Houghton Hall Garden Centre, Carlisle.

The town won the Marchon trophy and Silver Gilt award for the best large town, as well as the Rickerby Limited trophy and Silver Gilt award for best town.

The mayor of Kendal, Coun Clare Feeney-Johnson, said: “We were particularly pleased to have won this year because we had problems starting because of the change over of the clerk and reorganisation.

“The whole of Kendal’s community should be proud of winning this award because it’s a reflection on how beautiful the area is and how well kept the town is.”

Ms Feeney-Johnson believed that it was the involvement of the local community that made the town stand out from the competition. She said: “It makes a huge difference.”

She explained that the town council hopes to get children and young people more involved in the design of flowerbeds in future competitions.

Kendal’s Castle Green Hotel came out smelling of roses, jointly winning the Lakeland Limited trophy for best in commercial section and scooping one of the South Lakeland trophies for the best commercial premises in borough.

The hotel’s sales manager, Liz Duncan, said: “We are delighted our gardens have received such recognition and we are always looking to improve on our current green policies.

“Our current initiatives include enhancing our wild flower meadow.”

Kendal also came joint runners-up for best residential home, with Webster’s Yard winning the Rose Lodge Rose Bowl.

Katie Tompkins, chairman of Kendal in Bloom, said: “I think we’ve won more than we have before. The judge’s comments have been tremendously favourable.”

The town is now in the running for the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom, which will announce its winner on September 24.

l Last Tuesday (September 2), Windermere Town Council held its annual Windermere in Bloom presentation evening at the Hydro Hotel, Bowness.

More than 150 residents and businesses attended the event to receive acknowledgment for their blossoming displays.

Christine Hallatsch, a committee member for Windermere in Bloom, said: “It was a difficult year with the weather ruining a lot of the gardens making the judges’ job even more difficult. It was great to have representatives from 13 different organisations to come and spare their time to make the evening a success.”

Winners on the night included Mr Newton, of Windermere Park, who won the Chamber of Trade trophy; Mr Hansbrucker, of Fallbarrow Park, won The Lakeland Ltd trophy; Mrs Shankley, of Craig Walk, won the Windermere Parish trophy; Mr and Mrs Towers, of Fir Trees Guest House, won the South Lakes Tourism trophy; Mr and Mrs Johnson, of Fairfield Road, won the Windermere Council trophy; and the Alan Special award went to Abbeyfield.