Torbay blossoms at South West In Bloom awards

Blooming heck - Torbay has blossomed in the prestigious South West In Bloom Awards 2025.

The awards are part of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom campaign – the largest horticultural initiative in Europe.

And there were some golden moments for the English Riviera, not once not twice but three and even four times over.

An awards ceremony, held at the English Riviera Centre in Torquay, brought together community groups, volunteers, and council teams from across the South West to honour their efforts in transforming public spaces through planting, landscaping, conservation, and environmental projects.

This year, Torbay proudly received the following accolades:

• Torquay in Bloom - Gold Award
• Babbacombe Bay in Bloom - Gold Award and Winner of Portman Cup
• Paignton in Bloom - Gold Award
• Brixham in Bloom – Gold Award 

In addition to the Gold Awards, Torbay received further recognition through discretionary awards, celebrating creativity, inclusivity, and innovation in community horticulture. These included:

• Inclusive Gardening Award – Turning Heads CIC, for their outstanding work in accessible and therapeutic gardening.
• Best Community Website Award – Brixham in Bloom, for their engaging and informative digital presence that showcases local efforts to brighten the town.
• Special Award Dedication to Community Gardening – Sandi Jackson, Lychgate Cottages, St Marychurch.
• Dedication and Design Excellence Award – Ali Marshall, Head Gardener at Torre Abbey, for her inspiring horticultural work and garden designs.
• Special Mention for Creative Community Contribution – Jo Sharlott of Babbacombe Bay Bloomers, for coordinating the yarn flower displays crafted by volunteers from St Marychurch. These were gifted to the audience and helped raise £150 for Rowcroft Hospice.

The It’s Your Neighbourhood category also saw strong representation from Torbay, with numerous community-led projects achieving high-level ratings, including several “Outstanding” Level 5 awards. 

Cllr Adam Billings, Cabinet Member for Pride in Place, said: “These awards are testament to the dedication and passion of our local volunteers, community groups, and council teams. 

“Their collaborative work not only enhances the beauty of our towns but also strengthens community spirit and promotes environmental stewardship.

“This makes Torbay a better place for the residents who live here and a more appealing destination for the visitors we attract which, given so much of our economy is linked to tourism, is really important for the prosperity of our community. 

“Our continued success in the South West in Bloom Awards is the formal recognition for our commitment to horticultural excellence and community engagement. And with support from SWISCo and local volunteers, the area continues to flourish – quite literally year after year.”