We’re best blooming town in UK – and that’s official!
SOUTHPORT is Britain’s most floral town – it is now official, after our town won Gold in this year’s Britain In Bloom Awards.
But which were the areas which wowed the judges?
Our resort also took the top honour in the Coastal Town (more than 12,000 residents) category at a special awards ceremony at Edgbaston Cricket Club in Birmingham, while Pauline Morris, who runs the Lord Street In Bloom volunteers, won a Britain in Bloom RHS Community Champion Discretionary Award.
Here’s what judges Ian Beaney and Richard Budge said about their visit:
Ainsdale
“The community of Ainsdale and its associated church and community garden was extraordinary and exemplifies what can be done when a group of people get together with a clear vision for bettering their local community.
“The standard of maintenance and planting design was most impressive and complemented the surrounding streetscape, as did the work by the volunteers in Birkdale Village.”
Victoria Park
“The grounds of Southport Flower Show and Victoria Park were very interesting, with the build-up for the flower show well under way.
“The hanging basket display and green wall at the entrance gates were significant features.”
Rotten Row
“The stunning scale of the herbaceous border of Rotten Row, some 800 metres long, was extraordinary.
“Having fallen into decline, the site has been revitalised with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
“The Friends of Rotten Row are a truly remarkable group undertaking a truly remarkable task. The commitment of 14,000 volunteer hours at Rotten Row had produced an outstanding result. The level of engagement with the community was also most impressive.”
King’s Gardens, Hesketh Park and Botanic Gardens
“The King’s Gardens provided a lovely frontage to the seafront area.
“The informality of Hesketh Park and the restoration of its ponds provided a wonderful urban woodland.
“In contrast, the high levels of formal maintenance at the Botanic Gardens undertaken by the volunteer group was also remarkable.”
Barford House
“The garden of Pauline Morris at Barford House was both a stunning and immaculate display.”
Ainsdale Dunes
“The drive along the coast via the dune systems and interpretation of this important landscape by Rachel Northover was very informative.
“This site is a designated National Nature Reserve and a Ramsar site. It provides an important habitat for fauna including natterjack toads, great crested newts and sand lizards.”
Roundabout sculptures
“The inclusion of themed sculp- tures, such as those on the Coastal Road and Marine Drive roundabouts, exhibited elements of the town’s past.
“Leaving the grass embankment uncut opposite the planting on Rotten Row provided a great contrast and makes it an important habitat in its own right.”
Southport’s clean streets
“The town was very busy during the tour. The judges noted the very clean streetscape with only sporadic weed growth observed.
“The seating provision along Rotten Row was quirky and the addition of handpainted designs on some of the seating delightful.”
A Great Community Effort
“The high levels of partnership working between the council and the community was exhibited at nearly all sections of the tour.
“It was a fine example of how this partnership approach can work throughout a community.”
Superb Community Involvement
“The work by Pauline Morris and the team at Lord Street Gardens showed superb levels of community involvement and engagement, which included staff from Asda and Sainbury’s.
“The Friends groups at Kings Gardens and the Botanic Garden also showed community commitment.”
And here’s where should do better... Southport
“The tour passed areas of more permanent and shrub planting. The maintenance of some of these was not in keeping with the other high levels of maintenance seen on the tour.
“More attention should be given to these areas to ensure a consistent horticultural finish throughout.
“In Hesketh Park it was disappointing to note damage to lawn areas by dog urine.
“Basket irrigation in general was good although some baskets were observed that required some irrigation and feeding.
“While the tour exhibited very little in the way of street weeds, some weed growth was noted at the base of planters at the junction of Lord Street and Nevill Street. This detracted from the effect that the planters would otherwise have created.
“Some street furniture was also in need of refurbishment.”