Golds add to palette of colour for region’s gardeners

Judges hailed a record year for the annual competition despite the wet weather – and praised entrants’ dedication as they gave out 70 prizes in 12 categories, plus a clutch of discretionary awards.

Yorkshire in Bloom chairman Brendan Mowforth said: “One really cannot be involved with any outdoor activity this year without thinking about the weather.

“The wettest for 100 years, it set even greater challenges for our entries. However, through the dedication of communities, involving many volunteers, the environment of Yorkshire has been improved.”

This year’s competition attracted 270 entries from villages, towns, cities and coastal resorts to schools, churches, universities and racecourses.

Celebrating their success in the village categories were Mill Bank, Luddenden and Shadwell, each winning gold. Winners of the urban communities, towns and small cities categories were Starbeck, Dunnington, Garforth and Ripon, which all received gold.

Garforth had extra cause to celebrate as it was awarded a discretionary large community award.

Judges were told the group had progressed “in leaps and bounds” since forming in 2008 to the point it had a waiting list of sponsors for future projects.

Secretary Susan Ashworth said: “We’d hoped for gold but never in our wildest expectations did we expect to be the winner of the category. There were 12 other towns, so to come top we were astounded and then to be awarded the community award was just the icing on the cake.”

The revelation came just a day after the group found out it had won the Duke of York’s Community Initiative award, which it will be receive from Prince Andrew next month.

Chairman Phil Dunwell said: “It has been quite a couple of days. We’re absolutely over the moon.”

In the large town category, Halifax won with a silver gilt award while York topped the cities section, winning gold, and Whitby and Scarborough were both won the coastal resorts category, each taking home silver gilt.

Children and staff at Stakesby Community Primary School in Whitby also celebrated after topping the young people’s award category. Hunmanby School in North Yorkshire and Molescroft School in Beverley, East Yorkshire, also had cause for cheer as they were awarded discretionary young person’s awards.

Meanwhile, tireless volunteers across the region were recognised for their commitment with community champion awards, including Marianne Sutcliffe and Jean Butterworth of Todmorden in Bloom.

“The recent summer floods in Todmorden would have tested any resolve but through sheer hard work and leading a great team effort, still managed to have splendid floral displays for visitors and residents to enjoy and admire,” judges were told.

Prizes were also awarded to Janet Harrison of Morley in Bloom; Christine Parsons of Incredible Edible, Eastfield; Brian and Vi Waining of Hunmanby in Bloom; Brenda Anderson of Ripon in Bloom and Geoff Wilson of Whitby in Bloom.

Discretionary awards were also handed to communities, businesses and places of worship.

Allerton Bywater was awarded the best new entry prize while Owlthorpe and Grenoside won the conservation and memorial awards respectively.

Other winners were Fred Wade book shop in Halifax; Crystal Peaks shopping centre, Sheffield; Hull museums quarter; Pickering Road community orchards and wildlife area, Hull; Yorkshire Waterways Museum, Goole; Newlands Methodist Church, Morley; and Bradford University.

The awards were announced at York Racecourse at an event attended by more than 400 guests and prominent figures from the world of horticulture, including Roger Burnett, chairman of the RHS Britain in Bloom UK judging panel.

Mr Burnett said: “Entrants have had to endure difficult weather conditions and ongoing council cuts, but this is why I’m more excited than normal, because I love seeing the imaginative ways communities overcome challenges.

“It was reported that groups were pulling out of Britain in Bloom because of these problems, but in fact we’ve had a 10 per cent increase in the number signing up, making it a record year.

“Nothing fazes our volunteers and RHS Britain in Bloom 2012 represents a sense of community spirit and endeavour which is an inspiration to us all.”

After their success in last year’s Yorkshire in Bloom competition, Addingham, Filey, Harrogate, Hutton Cranswick, Kippax, Knaresborough, Leeds and Spofforth will go on to represent the region at the Britain in Bloom finals. The results will be announced on October 6 at a ceremony in Guernsey.