Barnstaple scoops a golden haul for South West in Bloom 2023

Barnstaple is basking in a golden sheen across the town after enjoying huge success in the annual South West in Bloom competition.

Volunteers, businesses and local organisations have been hard at work all year to ensure the town looked its best for the judging this summer.

Barnstaple in Bloom itself won gold at the South West awards ceremony held at Truro Cathedral this month, while Barnstaple Station also took gold, as did the Park Hotel and Imperial Hotel, plus there was plenty of success with the It’s Your Neighbourhood category, including a Level 5 Outstanding accolade for Pilton Bluecoat School.

RHS Britain in Bloom is the overarching charity and Barnstaple is judged alongside other towns of its size in a category called St Bridget's Cup.

It went up against Newquay, Yeovil, Portishead and Frome, with Yeovil winning the overall cup – however Gold is not an easy standard to achieve!

Barnstaple In Bloom was reformed in 2021 by a group of volunteers after the town had been without for several years, following the folding of the previous Bloom committee.

In 2021 they only had a few months to make an impact and won Silver Gilt, but in 2022 that changed to Gold and the trend has continued this year.

These days, judges are also looking for community involvement and environmental efforts as well as great floral displays.

Among other things in the past year the volunteers have concentrated on cleaning and painting street furniture, including more than 20 benches with Community Payback assistance, plus railings, lampposts and almost 291 bollards, using paint donated by Dulux.

Frances Bell of the In Bloom committee said the main judging day this year was July 5 and two experienced judges, Tim Eley and Rod Pooley came for the day and spent three-and-a-half hours walking along an especially-designed route to show off the best parts of Barnstaple.

She said: “Barnstaple floral art club put on a splendid display in Green Lanes and the Library was also involved in the tour.

“St Peter's Church hosted a wonderful art exhibition from Roundswell Primary School classes and lunch was provided by the Ebberley Arms and eaten as a buffet inside the parish church. Street cleaning staff and Barnstaple Town Council representatives joined volunteers along the route to make the judges welcome.

“The tour also included Brannam Court where residents maintain a beautiful community garden, Barnstaple Station and Station Master Cafe in the business category.”

On a separate day, another experienced judge, Graham Bell, came to town and judged other businesses and community gardens for the It’s Your Neighbourhood category.

Barnstaple Fire Station entered and the judge was delighted with the gorgeous garden created by serving fire officers, which later scored a Level 5 Outstanding rating.

Park Hotel and Imperial Hotel were both awarded Gold and Electric and Steel tattoo and Home Sweet Home were awarded Silver Gilt and Silver, fantastic for a first time entry.

Pilton and Bradiford in Bloom entered three IYNs and had good success, especially with the school entry from Pilton Bluecoats which also scored Level 5 Outstanding.

Frances added: “We have about 35 regular volunteers, who do all sorts including painting bollards, weeding, mowing, planting, strimming and the famous Monday Night Hit Squad, who target weedy and untidy areas of the town for beautification.

“For all of us the competition is not the main reason we volunteer, but a real desire to make Barnstaple a better place to live, work and visit. We work closely with Barnstaple Town Council and North Devon Council and lots of improvements have been taking place across the town as a result of these partnerships.”

Planning is already well under way for next year and businesses, schools, groups or neighbourhoods are very welcome to get in touch and find out about entering the business category or submitting an It’s Your Neighbourhood entry for 2024.

Barnstaple in Bloom is very grateful to all the volunteers who put in hours and hours of work and appreciates any sponsorship and encouragement from the community as it has no income of its own.

If you’d like to get involved and make an entry, become a volunteer, sponsor or find out more, please email Frances Bell on frances@barnstapleinbloom.co.uk. Plus keep up to date with news on the Barnstaple In Bloom Facebook page.