Judges of a horticultural competition have described the green-fingered efforts of Bury St Edmunds as “wonderful”.

Yesterday, Anglia in Bloom judges Brian Thornton and Eileen Ward enjoyed a tour of the town, which took in stops such as Moyse’s Hall Museum, the Abbey Gardens and ‘Flying Fortress Park’ at Moreton Hall.

Rebecca Davis, horticultural officer for the borough, who designs the striking floral displays in the Abbey Gardens, said she had tried to do things a bit differently this year.

On a stop in the Abbey Gardens, Ms Ward said: “I’m impressed with Rebecca’s new planting scheme in the gardens. It’s different to what we have seen here before. There are more subtle colours and bee-friendly plants, which is wonderful.”

Mr Thornton, who is Anglia in Bloom president, was impressed with the team-work and community involvement to make the town look its best, the hanging baskets and new wolf trail.

Ms Ward described what they had seen as “wonderful,” adding: “It’s lovely to see there are so many different things in the pipeline still where they are going to greatly improve other areas. Credit to all of them.”

Alan Jary, chairman of Bury in Bloom, said their work was “putting Bury on the map, promoting Bury and making Bury one of the most attractive towns in the country to live in”.

He added: “Our season has extended. No longer is it just running for a couple of months of the summer. There are winter hanging baskets and things like that.”

At Moyse’s Hall Museum the judges learned about Bury in Bloom schemes, Young Green Fingers, Busy Green Fingers, Senior Green Fingers and Certificates of Merit, which is in recognition of floral displays by members of the public.

The Anglia in Bloom awards ceremony is due to take place in September.