Torquay leads the South West for Britain in Bloom glory

Torquay will represent the whole of the South West in the prestigious national finals of the Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom competition 2025.

Britain in Bloom is a nationwide contest that aims to inspire communities to make positive changes to their local environment through horticultural, environmental and community action. 

There are 16 regional competitions, with only the best reaching the national finals. 

Torbay won multiple gold awards for Babbacombe and St Marychurch, Paignton and Torquay in Bloom in October 2024.

The Italian garden on Torquay’s seafront won the prestigious ABBISS Cup for the best horticultural display.

This award is given to a municipal garden featuring a mix of annual, biennial and perennial plants, along with trees and shrubs in a landscaped setting.

It also received the Plantscape Coastal Trophy for the best seaside entry.

Torquay will now feature in the national finals for 2025, where it will be judged for its seafront, Cockington Country Park, hotel gardens and several parts of the South West Path. 

Judges will look at the health of the trees and the grass, the cleanliness of streets and beaches and the maintenance of street furniture and support for wildlife.

Torquay in Bloom will be competing against Shrewsbury, the London borough of Tower Hamlets, Derry, Chorley, Royal Tunbridge Wells and Harrogate. Your Story is the theme for this year’s competition, with an emphasis on tourism, sustainability, and skills development.

SWISCo, the provider of local council services in Torbay, including waste, recycling, parks and grounds maintenance, believes that this theme plays to Torquay’s strength.

They say that local people value the town's green spaces and that the spaces attract tourists to the area.

Mark Hackett, parks and amenities service manager at SWISCo, said: “Not only is this nomination important because it recognises the hard work and dedication of our team here at SWISCo, but it’s also a reflection of Torbay’s hard-working volunteer groups. 

“It will be up to all of us — SWISCo, volunteers, residents and businesses — to ensure that our area is looking at its very best this summer.”

Margaret Forbes-Hamilton of the Torbay Green Space Forum added: “To get this far has required full collaboration between the professionals and the voluntary gardening groups. If we wish to be in with a chance, it is essential we keep working together.”

Susie Colley, chair of Torquay Chamber of Commerce, said: “The quality of the planting embellishes the natural beauty of the Bay as well as enhancing the visitor and resident experience. 

“Working together, we get to showcase Torbay as the beautiful and vibrant place we know it to be. Being a finalist in a national competition of this cacalibre will give Torquay a renewed sense of pride and help us realise the vision of making Torbay a year-round destination!”