News & Events
Brilliant news!
Bath has been chosen to represent the Southwest of England in this year's RHS Britain in bloom competition national finals and will be in the small city category, Bath was chosen as a result of winning gold in last year's Southwest in Bloom competition.
It means Bath will be judged twice this year, the RHS finals will be judged late July or early August and the Southwest competition judged in early July.
Bath was the first winner of the RHS Britain in Bloom competition in 1964 and has won it 14 times since, Bath were in the 2020 national finals but sadly the competition was cancelled due to the pandemic, prior to that Bath won gold in the 2015 "champion of champions" category national competition.
Originally the competition was judged purely on the entry’s “Flower power” but over the years the criteria has changed to reflect the world we live in i.e climate change and the need for volunteer groups to step in and help cash strapped local authorities, this year with climate change at the top of everyone's agenda the criteria has changed again with the emphasis on pollinator friendly planting, biodiversity and saving water as well as more community participation.
The Bath in Bloom committee chairman Steve Brook said “We rely on Bath’s many volunteer community groups and individuals to help us with our entry, as well as schools, parks department and local businesses, we also rely on sponsorship, if any group, individual or business would like to help or sponsor us in this very important year please contact us on bathinbloom@gmail.com for details”.
Bath in Bloom Hon Pres Barry Cruse MBE said " I would encourage Businesses, schools and indeed anyone with a garden or allotment they are proud of to enter the local Bath in Bloom competition, (details of this years competition will be announced soon), it would help our entry to show the judges the support we get from Baths amazing gardeners, also i would urge any volunteer groups engaged in garden related schemes to consider entering the RHS "Its your neighbourhood scheme" please contact us via our website to get more information. .
On the 2nd August Bath was judged in the RHS Britain in Bloom National finals by judges Kate Dagnall and James Cordingly, the weather was mainly fine and warm but with a hunt of drizzle about.
We enjoyed showing the judges various projects across the city starting the 4 hour tour at the wonderful Bath organic group allotments, from there to the Botanic Gardens to meet the volunteers including the lovely ladies from Bath WI, then driving through Royal Victoria Park to the "Urban Garden centre" where Matt and the volunteers showed the judges how the garden centre operated.
A short drive to Milsom street where we met Roland and his team from Bath BID cleaning up an oil spillage, and then off to the amazing Sydney gardens where volunteers Gill and Caroline showed the judges how the "Friends of Sydney Gardens" help to maintain the gardens , then back to the Southgate shopping centre to meet Lisa who showed the judges the floral displays and the wonderful butterfly roof, the lovely Manvers Street raised beds were next where the judges met BIB volunteers, Terrace walk fountain was next on the list, We finished the tour in Parade Gardens where a light lunch had been arranged for the judges and some of our volunteers. A great day and hopefully GOLD for Bath!!
James and Kate enjoying a glass of home made apple juice at the Bath organic group allotments.
Bath WI volunteers with the judges.
The judges with Gill and Caroline in Sydney Gardens.
Southgate Shopping centre
Our "Parks" guys in Parade Gardens, well done chaps it looked fabulous!
The July 20th Britain in Bloom Southwest Judging tour
The Chairman of Bath and NorthEast somerset council Cllr Shawn McGall with some of the members of Bath Organic Group, this our first stop on a 4.5 hour tour of community groups, businessess and parks.
Terry and Caroline in the amazing Sydney Gardens
The incredible new Childrens play area at Sydney Gardens
Terry at the Southgate shopping centre with Lisa
The Mayor of Bath Cllr Rob Appleyard and Terry presenting prizes to Rose and Nia the 2 winners of our school painting competition
The new seating area in Kingsmead Square looking good.
Bath in Bloom and Walcot street volunteers have given the Walcot community garden a make over, they have also worked hard on the Ladymead fountain giving the stonework a good clean and removing the old compost ready for the fountain to be re planted in the coming weeks. 20/03/22
On the 2nd August Bath was judged in the RHS Britain in Bloom National finals by judges Kate Dagnall and James Cordingly, the weather was mainly fine and warm but with a hunt of drizzle about.
We enjoyed showing the judges various projects across the city starting the 4 hour tour at the wonderful Bath organic group allotments, from there to the Botanic Gardens to meet the volunteers including the lovely ladies from Bath WI, then driving through Royal Victoria Park to the "Urban Garden centre" where Matt and the volunteers showed the judges how the garden centre operated.
A short drive to Milsom street where we met Roland and his team from Bath BID cleaning up an oil spillage, and then off to the amazing Sydney gardens where volunteers Gill and Caroline showed the judges how the "Friends of Sydney Gardens" help to maintain the gardens , then back to the Southgate shopping centre to meet Lisa who showed the judges the floral displays and the wonderful butterfly roof, the lovely Manvers Street raised beds were next where the judges met BIB volunteers, Terrace walk fountain was next on the list, We finished the tour in Parade Gardens where a light lunch had been arranged for the judges and some of our volunteers. A great day and hopefully GOLD for Bath!!
James and Kate enjoying a glass of home made apple juice at the Bath organic group allotments.
Bath WI volunteers with the judges.
The judges with Gill and Caroline in Sydney Gardens.
Southgate Shopping centre
Our "Parks" guys in Parade Gardens, well done chaps it looked fabulous!
The July 20th Britain in Bloom Southwest Judging tour
The Chairman of Bath and NorthEast somerset council Cllr Shawn McGall with some of the members of Bath Organic Group, this our first stop on a 4.5 hour tour of community groups, businessess and parks.
Terry and Caroline in the amazing Sydney Gardens
The incredible new Childrens play area at Sydney Gardens
Terry at the Southgate shopping centre with Lisa
The Mayor of Bath Cllr Rob Appleyard and Terry presenting prizes to Rose and Nia the 2 winners of our school painting competition
The new seating area in Kingsmead Square looking good.
Bath in Bloom and Walcot street volunteers have given the Walcot community garden a make over, they have also worked hard on the Ladymead fountain giving the stonework a good clean and removing the old compost ready for the fountain to be re planted in the coming weeks. 20/03/22
Tree planting on the hillside above Weston on Saturday and Sunday 5th and 6th Feb 2022 by volunteers in conjunction with More Trees for BANES, and the Council. Very well attended by all age groups on both days. The Mayor attended to help plant.
Bath in Bloom volunteers after tidying the beds at the fountain in Terrace Walk.
A fitting tribute to a remarkable man in Royal Victoria Park.
Children from Widcombe Junior School planting Cowslip plug plants donated by Bath in Bloom at Lyncombe hill fields, November 2021.
Chairman of the Bath in Bloom committee Steve Brook presenting members of the "Lyncombe Hill Fields" volunteer group with their RHS "Its your Neighbourhood" level 3 "Advancing" award, well done to a brilliant group who work incredibly hard on their project in Lyncombe.
Barry Cruse MBE presenting Kate Mills from "Bath Organic Group" with their RHS level 5 "Its your Neighbourhood" award, another of Baths fantastic volunteer community groups.
Barry Cruse MBE with Sophia and members of the "Monksdale road Allotments" with their RHS level 5 " Its your Neighbourhood " award, very well done to a dedicated hard working volunteer group.
Pupils of Weston All Saints Primary School planting daffodil bulbs kindly donated by Bath in Bloom. The teacher said they were all very excited and thoroughly enjoyed getting their hands dirty.
The Chairman of the Bath in Bloom committee Stephen Brook and his wife Christine kindly donated two specimen trees, a Cedar Deodar and a Cedar of Lebanon, which with the Council’s permission were planted in the Archery Field at Weston. Denise Hart, the Parks Department tree manager came along to position the trees and to help plant them and then logged their positions using GPS satellite mapping, which is then put on the Council’s database for future record keeping.
This was all done as part of the Council’s ambitious tree planting scheme to plant 100,000 trees in BANES over the next few years, to help with climate change, wildlife, and to provide a better environment for all of us and future generations
Members of the Bath in Bloom committee and volunteers doing a fantastic job maintaining the Manvers Street flower beds.
Green Flag awards 2021
Great news, 5 of Baths parks have been awarded Green Flag status this year.
Royal Victoria park
Hedgemead Park
Henrietta Park
Alexandra Park
Bloomfield Green
Many congratulations to the guys from parks dept and the many volunteers that help maintain these wonderful parks.
Pictured are BIB volunteers Christine Brook and Carol Cruse, Chairman of the Bath in Bloom committee Steve Brook and Hon Pres Barry Cruse MBE
The annual Britain in Bloom Southwest awards ceremony was held in Weston Super mare on October 7th 2021, Bath were competing in the Small city category and were awarded Gold and the Tesco cup as overall category winner.
More success came in the Business, leisure and tourism category for Milsom Place, The Old Crown Inn at Kelston and The Inn at Freshford who were all awarded Gold.
The Old Crown Inn at Kelston was voted best floral Public house in the Southwest.
The Manvers Street flower beds were nominated in the best non municipal display category meaning they are in the top 5 displays in the Southwest, the beds were designed, planted and maintained by volunteers.
A huge thank you to the many volunteer community groups businesses and individuals who contributed to our entry, not forgetting our brilliant Parks Dept and Bath BID .
The Mayor of Bath Cllr June Player with members of the Bath in Bloom committee and the guys from BANES Parks Dept .
In 2021 Bath in bloom joined forces with the Mayor of Bath and gave away thousands of Daffodil bulbs to community groups in Bath and NorthEast Somerset,
Photo is of The Mayor of Bath Cllr June Player , Bath in Bloom committee Chairman Steve Brook and Hon Pres Barry cruse MBE presenting a large bag of Daffodil bulbs to Sophia, project manager of Bath Mind (GreenLinks) at the Monksdale road allotments.
The Mayor Cllr June Player with Bath in Bloom members and volunteers planting bulbs at Weston,
We are all looking forward to next spring when many green spaces across Bath will glow with daffodils!
Volunteers planting bulbs in Combe Down
Chairman of the Bath in Bloom committee Steve Brook together with committee member Diana Barlow and volunteer Christine Brook planting up new planters at "The Hub" cafe at Combe Down in Bath in advance of its inaugeral community day on Saturday 11th September.
Some of the overall winners in the Bath in Bloom local competition , many congratulations to everyone.
Pub with garden display "The Old Crown at Kelston"
Overall Community champion winner "Alice Park community garden"
Kathy Cook with her glass presentation bowl.
Garden with emphasis on the environment category won by the gardeners at "Alderbrook Farm"
Overall Private champion winner "Penelope Dalrimple-Smith".
Business premises with garden was won by "Neptune" in Walcot Street, receiving the trophy is
the manager Stephen Hayes with a member of his staff.
Horticultural achievement by a group won by "Friends of the RUH "
Overall business winner, The Inn at Freshford.
Congratulations on a wonderful display.
Here is a list of all the winners.
SMALL GARDEN
Ken Davies and Dan Rafferty of Bath
MEDIUM GARDEN
Richard and Sue Wales of Bathwick Hill, Bath
LARGE GARDEN
Penny and Peter Giles of Southdown, Bath
CONTAINERS and/or HANGING BASKETS
Dawn Colliver of Paulton
ALLOTMENT or KITCHEN GARDEN
Mike Colliver of Paulton
BUSINESS PREMISES with CONTAINER PLANTING
Bath Retro Store of Abbey Green, Bath
BUSINESS PREMISES with GARDEN
Neptune of Walcot St., Bath
PUB with FLORAL DISPLAY
The Old Crown Inn at Kelston
** this pub also won the best floral pub in the RHS Southwest in Bloom 2021 competition!
HORTICULTURAL ACHIEVEMENT by a GROUP
Friends of the RUH at the Royal United Hospital in Bath
GARDEN WITH EMPHASIS ON ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY METHODS
Gardeners of Alderbrook Farm at Langridge
PATIO or COURTYARD GARDEN
Shane Shewan of Henrietta Street, Bath
BUSINESS CHAMPION WINNER
The Inn at Freshford
COMMUNITY CHAMPION WINNER
Alice Park Community Garden in Bath
PRIVATE CHAMPION WINNER
Penelope Dalrymple-Smith of Walcot Street, Bath
Bath in Bloom committee members and volunteers helping to judge the vegetable section at the Claverton Horticultural show on Saturday 4th September 2021, other committee members helped set up the show and conducted an auction at the end of the show, the Mayor of Bath Cllr June Player opened the show and helped present the prizes.
It was a beautiful sunny day and was their most successful show ever.
Bath was judged in the Britain in Bloom Southwest competition on July 7th 2021 by judges Lesley Jelleyman and Su Maddocks ,We showcased many of our wonderful community groups, Businesses, Parks and of course our fantastic floral displays, the rain didnt dampen our spirits or enthusiasm!
Here are some photos of the tour.
Barry Cruse MBE, Lesley Jelleyman, Su Maddocks, Bath in Bloom Committee Chairman Steve Brook and BANES parks nursery manager Matt Soan.
Judges Lesley Jelleyman and Su Maddocks at Brock Street flower beds.
The Judges at the Manvers Street raised beds.
Judges at St Andrews Church School.
The fantastic Bath in Bloom window in Milsom Place created by Nicola Ware.
Volunteer gardeners at Botanic gardens.
Our "Its your neighbourhood" entries were assessed by the two judges
Some of the volunteers at Alice Park community garden.
The Mayor of Bath with some of her "On Boarder's" at Oldfield Park station.
Members of Weston Village Gardening Club with Judge Su Maddocks.
Members of the Friends of Henrietta Park showing Su around.
Walcot Street Community garden looking splendid.
Volunteers from Bath in Bloom and Walcot traders planting the Ladymead fountain in Walcot Street .
The Fountain at Terrace walk.
Volunteers from Bath in Bloom planting the fountain at Terrace walk, locally known as "Bog Island"
After discussions with the Bath Parks Department it was agreed that Bath in Bloom would undertake to fund and plant up the base of this beautiful 19th century fountain.
This fountain was originally situated in Stall St outside the Pump Room and about thirty years ago was dismantled stone by stone and rebuilt in its present position in Terrace Walk.
On Friday 19th March a small team of Bath in Bloom committee members and volunteers enjoyed a day of clearing the site and planting evergreen shrubs of various colours and shapes. The planting was designed by committee chairman Steve Brook to enhance and complement the classical architecture of the fountain and was finished off with a ton of Bath stone coloured gravel mulch. A great workout was had by all!
Summer 2021
Southgate Shopping centre
Royal Victoria park
Spring 2022
Parade gardens
Churchill bridge
Botanic gardens
Bath in Bloom volunteers after a spring tidy up at the Manvers Street raised beds
Chairman Steve Brook planting trees at Weston Park
Huge congratulations to Weston Village gardening club, they work tirelessly throughout the year to help make Weston Village and the City of Bath a greener and nicer place to live and work.
Britain in Bloom Southwest competition 2019 results.
Please note the 2020 competition was cancelledChampion of Champions category
Bath... Gold
Barry Cruse MBE and Steve Brook receiving the Gold award from Lord Fellows
BID category
Bath BID...Gold
Bath BID...Gold
Business category
Southgate shopping centre... Gold
Milsom Place shopping centre... Gold
The Griffin Inn.. Gold
The Inn at Freshford... Gold
The Old Crown Inn Kelston... Gold
Radstock Co-operative... Gold
The Griffin Inn.. Gold
The Inn at Freshford... Gold
The Old Crown Inn Kelston... Gold
Radstock Co-operative... Gold
The Ayer cup
Radstock..Siver Gilt
The Sargent cup
Keynsham ...Gold
The RHS Its your neighbourhood scheme
Weston village gardening club... "Outstanding"
Bath WI community garden... "Outstanding"
The "On Board" community group..."Outstanding"
Walcot community garden... "Outstanding"
St Andrews C of E Primary School "Thriving"
RHS Britain in Bloom National finals.. Bath BID... Gold
Baroness Flowela Benjamin OBE with Charlotte Thurse, Allison Herbert, Barry Cruse MBE and Steve Brook at the Britain in Bloom presentation ceremony 2019
We are looking forward to Bath organic group being part of our Britain in Bloom entry in 2022.