South Lakeland communities named among best in Britain at bloom awards (From The Westmorland Gazette)

South Lakeland communities named among best in Britain at bloom awards

11:20am Thursday 11th October 2012 in News By Hannah Upton

TWO South Lakeland communities are celebrating after their debut entries into the Britain in Bloom contest proved triumphant.

Cartmel was awarded a silver gilt prize in the village category and Windermere a silver in the town section.

Members of both voluntary groups said they were 'over the moon' with the results, which were announced at a glittering Royal Horticultural Society ceremony in Guernsey.

Representatives from Cartmel and Windermere were presented with the accolades by TV personality Matt Baker, star of Countryfile and The One Show. 

Linda Crabtree, who picked up the award for Cartmel with husband David, said: "It was such a fantastic occasion. The judges said they were particularly impressed with the community spirit we had engendered, involving local school children and businesses.

"They said if we keep on doing what we are doing it could be a gold award in future."

Chairman of the Cartmel in Bloom group, Tiffany Hunt said: "It is brilliant because everyone just worked so hard.

"The judges paid particular compliments to volunteers. I am very proud of the work the schools in Cartmel did and the allotments were a very strong feature.

"To get a silver gilt first time round is to the enormous credit of everyone who was involved. We hope that both residents and visitors alike will continue to enjoy the resulting benefits."

Coun Lisa Greasley, chairman of Windermere in Bloom, picked up the award with Adrian Faulkner, representative of Cumbria in Bloom.

She said: "We were very pleased with the result; just to be shortlisted in the first place was amazing.

"I would hope a lot of the projects that started because of this will continue and it gives everyone who has been involved the impetus to carry it forward.

"A massive thank you to the town council and everyone in the community for backing the programme."

More than 1,200 UK communities participate each year in the RHS campaign to 'green-up and clean-up' Britain.

Just 72 finalists were chosen to represent their region in the finals. Judges toured the UK during the summer to visit the short-listed areas.

Chairman of the judges Roger Burnett said: "We had the privilege and pleasure of visiting the most environmentally aware communities in Britain and meeting the wonderful people responsible for them.

"The best thing about being a judge is meeting the volunteers. They’re hard-working and resilient whatever is thrown at them, whether it’s a hose-pipe ban or flooding, they’ll find a way around it."

Coun Greasley added anyone who wishes to get involved with Windermere's efforts to continue the work started by Britain in Bloom can call her on 01539 444465.