The region’s horticultural enthusiasts gathered in west Suffolk today for the prestigious Anglia in Bloom awards.
Villages, towns and cities across East Anglia were judged on their floral decoration, with winners being crowned at a ceremony held at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds.
There was success across Suffolk and Essex, with a number of awards presented over a variety of different categories, but it was Wisbech, in Cambridgeshire, who scooped the coveted overall best entry prize.
Blundeston in north Suffolk was victorious in the large villages category, while Frinton-on-Sea in Essex won best small town.
David Foster, Frinton in Bloom chairman, said: “We’re delighted, it’s a real team effort and we are well supported by the county and district councillors.
“We have been a part of Anglia in Bloom for the past 25 years and long may that continue.”
Halstead picked up the best town crown for the tenth year in a row and the Essex town’s public gardens also scooped the best medium-sized park prize.
Margaret Eskins, chairman of Halstead in Bloom, said: “We’re absolutely delighted as its the tenth year we’ve won best town.
“It’s been a nightmare with the weather this year but we’ve got an incredible team of volunteers who work so hard for the town.”
The Nicholas Everitt Park in Lowestoft won the small park category, and the Gunton Hall Coastal Hotel in the town scooped best hotel.
Newcomers Brandon received the best new entrant award.
Last year’s overall winners Bury St Edmunds, who will compete in this year’s prestigious Britain in Bloom competition being held in Belfast in October, picked up the best local authority floral display award for the central beds in the Abbey Gardens.
Melanie Lesser, Bury in Bloom coordinator, was also nominated for The Mike Ames Award in recognition of long and voluntary service, and the town received 12 gold awards overall.
She said: “It was superb to win the award for the central beds in the Abbey Gardens in what has been a challenging year with all the hot weather we had.
“We were delighted to host the awards here in Bury this year, it’s a feather in the cap for the town and we have had many compliments about the venue.”
Bob Ollier, chairman of Anglia in Bloom, said: “The Anglia in Bloom communities across the six counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk should be justifiably proud of this year’s achievements.
“This year standards have continued on from last year with excellent awards achieved, the outstanding community work, many resourceful projects and superb floriferous displays have all added to fantastic community entries with 57 Gold, 13 Silver Gilt, 6 Silver, 3 Bronze awarded.
“The continued key to the Anglia region’s success has been the very strong community involvement, where everyone is getting involved and works closely together, enabling great projects to be created and delivered.
“I congratulate all the Bloom groups and communities in the region for the enthusiasm, commitment and effort made to improve, develop and
sustain local environments across our region, it is a great credit to you all.”
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