Barnstaple takes top spot at prestigious South West in Bloom finals
From silver to golden top spot in five years – Barnstaple in Bloom wins its group outright at this year’s South West in Bloom awards
Barnstaple has scooped gold and won its category outright in a meteoric rise through the South West in Bloom competition that saw the town go from silver to top spot in five short years.
At the annual South West in Bloom presentation in Newquay on Friday, October 23 and at the height of Storm Austen, Barnstaple was named top of the ‘large town’ category and overall winner of the St Bridget’s Cup.
The current Barnstaple in Bloom committee was revived in 2021 after a 12-year break and it means in five years the town has progressed to win against current competition Newquay, Yeovil, Newton Abbot and Westbury to claim top spot.
Barnstaple also won the Sargent Trophy, which is for ‘Best Contribution to South West in Bloom’.
In 2021, a small group of dedicated volunteers led by Frances Bell MBE had just a few short months to enter South West in Bloom, which is part of the wider RHS Britain in Bloom contest and the town won silver gilt despite little notice.
Gold awards followed from 2022 to 2024 and while there was not a whole town entry last year, several individual golds and ‘outstanding’ awards went to Barnstaple groups and organisations.
But this year the phoenix had truly returned to full glory and a delighted Frances said: “We are all so proud to have achieved these awards in what has been a truly difficult year of gardening.
“The wet winter of 2025-26 and then the dramatically dry weather which had us watering pots and baskets by hand at 6am on Butchers Row and elsewhere!
“The mayor and councillors of Newquay made us very welcome and we enjoyed a blustery conference with Storm Austen raging outside all day.
“Thank you, sincerely, to all the amazing volunteers who work tirelessly and with passion for Barnstaple in Bloom. Each one of you is immensely important to our organisation and as chair, I am deeply humbled by the hours of commitment you all give.”
The 20226 presentation also saw awards go to various organisations in the town including The Park Hotel, The Imperial Hotel, Tarka Leisure Centre, North Devon Hospice gardens, Inner Wheel Garden Mini Garden, Pilton Community Farm, The Pickwell Foundation, Barnstaple Floral Art Club, Brannam Medical Centre and Barnstaple Railway Station.
Frances added: “Thanks to Barnstaple Town Council and North Devon Council which have both supported us with no end of jobs we can’t manage on our own. Working in partnership is the only way we can achieve our goals.
“We know we have more to do in the town, but we have the expertise of South West in Bloom committee to call upon and we are ambitious for this little area of the England which we call home.
“Why not join us? Get in touch through the Barnstaple in Bloom Facebook page for more details.”