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Dartmouth in Bloom - judging
Chairman Stevie Rogers (right), and committee member Melanie Hughes-Jones, with the national judges at the demonstration potager on Dartmouth’s riverfront. It was created by Dartmouth in Bloom using manure from Stevie’s farm.
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Dartmouth in Blook Ship
The centrepiece planting of a galleon in Royal Avenue Gardens created by the South Hams DC gardening team.
Dartmouth in Bloom scoops top national awards
Dartmouth in Bloom has won the coveted Gold Award and was joint winner of the 'Small Coastal Town with a population below 12000' category of the Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom finals in Cleethorpes on Saturday 12 October, 2013.
Chairman, Stevie Rogers, who attended the event with several other committee members, won a Community Champion Award, presented to an individual or individuals who demonstrated exceptional commitment and dedication to the Britain in Bloom cause in their community.
A delighted Stevie said: ‘We were in the top five nationally for the Edible Britain award, the Public Park Award and Environmental Responsibility Award and won a Special Commendation in the Young People's Award, given to the finalist which involved young people from across the community in the best way. We were competing with major cities and much larger towns in the discretionary awards such as Edinburgh and Bath, operating with much larger resources.’
This year’s theme was Edible Britain. Dartmouth was one of 80 towns invited to participate in the national awards, run by the Royal Horticultural Society. The town had already won gold in the South West Region judging announced last month. "These awards give Dartmouth a huge boost nationally, helping market the town to visitors," said Stevie.
"2013 has been a year of challenges for us: A new committee, greatly reduced finances, loss of our greenhouse, not to mention the terrible weather of the spring followed by weeks of watering madly in the heatwave! Despite all this, we have seen our committee increase to a new high in both numbers and dedication, and the residents and businesses of the town have shared in our enthusiasm and supported us in our quest to enhance our very beautiful town.
"We have been very fortunate to have the help and co-operation of a fantastic team of District Council gardeners. As finalists this year we have been galvanised into an extra-special effort, doubling the amount we have done despite having half the finances of last year. Our emphasis has been on encouraging all sections of the community to join in, on doing as much as possible of the growing and all the planting and maintenance ourselves, and on re-using and sustainability. Being finalists has certainly brought everyone together in renewed civic pride. This is a wonderful award for the whole town."