Addingham puts on its floral best for contest judges (From Craven Herald)
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Addingham puts on its floral best for contest judges
10:00am Monday 13th August 2012 in News
The group behind Addingham’s first bid for success in the Britain in Bloom competition
Impressive floral displays and bright sunshine showed Addingham in the best light possible as the village made its first Britain in Bloom bid.
Two Royal Horticultural Society judges visited the village on Thursday to assess Addingham’s entry in the small town section of the national competition.
After gaining several high-standard silver gilt awards in the regional Yorkshire in Bloom competition, Addingham won a gold award last year, earning the village its first-ever selection for Britain in Bloom.
Other competitors in the small town section include towns and large villages in Dorset, Oxfordshire, County Durham and Northern Ireland.
The results will be announced at a ceremony at St Peter Port, Guernsey, in October.
The task of co-ordinating Addingham’s entry has been in the hands of Addingham Garden Friends – which joined forces with community organisations, Addingham Parish Council, Bradford Council and residents to get the village looking at its very best.
The Garden Friends took the judges on a tour of the village, calling at highlights including Addingham Primary School – where children cultivate their own plot – and the Hen Pen on Main Street, a rustic former hen run converted into a floral public garden.
Coloured bunting was hanging along the streets and many shops had kept colourful window displays from the recent Addingham Gala and diamond jubilee celebrations.
A special effort was put in to beautify the fire-damaged former Village Store on Main Street, painting the boarded-up shop front and doorway to represent a florist’s shop.
Judge Jon Wheatley said: “We’re really impressed by the commitment of the community towards making a beautiful place more beautiful. It’s lovely to see young people involved.”
Fellow judge Rae Beckwith – who had a sneak preview when he passed through the village earlier this year while visiting relatives – praised gardeners for making the best use of resources within the area, such as local stone.
