Torbay flourishes at In Bloom Awards

Torbay flourished at this year’s South West in Bloom awards, with various communities and initiatives catching the attention of judges. 

Comprising the counties of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, South West in Bloom is one of sixteen regional competitions that make up the national Britain in Bloom - now the biggest horticultural campaign in Europe.

The competition's goal is to improve local environments through a variety of activities, including planting trees, shrubs, and flowers; landscaping; conservation, recycling projects and removing litter, graffiti, and vandalism. 

Expecting tough competition, TeamSWISCo as well as volunteer groups headed to Bath hoping to win something, but determined to enjoy the day amongst fellow horticulturists, regardless. 

Following inspiring morning talks from the legendary Jim Buttress who has won eight gold medals at Chelsea and Tom Harty Dyke the pioneering plant hunter who has led expeditions worldwide, the afternoon was given over to the serious business of the awards.

It wasn’t long, however, that awards came rolling in for Torbay. 

After a highly successful effort last year, community group Babbacombe Bay in Bloom saw repeated success, winning a Gold Award in the Champions of Champions category for Babbacombe and St Marychurch. Starting life in 1998, the Babbacombe Bay Bloomers have been sprucing up the community for decades and have become a regular name in the In Bloom competition.

Outstanding Awards were also given to the Babbacombe Bay Bloomers for St Marychurch Precinct and Foxlands Walk, the Rose Garden, the Millennium Copse, Chilcote Memorial Corner and telephone box and the Buglife Bed on the Downs.

Ian Cawley, Chair of Babbacombe Bay Bloomers, said: “Many cup winners are a lot bigger than us with much more council backing, so we couldn’t be happier with what we’ve achieved.

“Everyone throughout our community has done exceptionally well. This group has gone from strength to strength.”

He added: “We’re friends first, but friends who want to keep the place looking nice to live in. The best part of this group is the friends we’ve made.”

Babbacombe Yearn Fairies also came third in Denise James Art in the Landscape Trophy for their amazing knitted work. Gold Tourism and Business awards were given to the Babbacombe Inn, the Cary Arms and the Babbacombe Model Village.

Oldway Gardens Volunteer Group were also honoured with a discretionary award, the Michael McGahey Trophy, for exceptional community effort. 

The group said: “Oldway Gardens Group is very honoured to be awarded the RHS South West in Bloom discretionary award, The Michael McGahey Trophy, for exceptional community effort, together with the RHS Community Award for community engagement and for the fourth year running an “outstanding” level in the Its Your Neighbourhood Award. 

"These awards are a testimony to the amazing commitment, creativity and resilience of each and every volunteer and the amazing support from the local community.”

TeamSWISCo bagged Gold Awards for Paignton and Torquay in Bloom, together with an additional Winners Award by sponsor, Tesco, for Torquay in Bloom. 

But the best was yet to come.

Just nine months after it was first planted out, amidst considerable controversy, the Italian Garden on Torquay seafront won the prestigious ABBISS CUP for the best horticultural display.  

This award is given to a specific municipal display and must consist of a mix of annual/biannual/perennial planting, together with trees and shrubs, set in a hard or soft landscape.  The quality of plants, variety of species, and the imaginative use of them are of particular importance in this award - as is the level of horticultural excellence.  

Clearly, the judges were so impressed by the Italian Garden that one award was not enough, and it received an additional award, the Plantscape Coastal Trophy, for the best seaside entry! 

Parks Service Manager, Mark Hackett, said: “We couldn’t have asked for more, I’m quite overcome. We worked so very hard on the Italian Garden and always knew the end result would be something quite stunning, but we had to convince the public first.

“And I also wanted to give a big thank you to the volunteer groups who have helped us and given their invaluable input and ideas," he added. 

Councillor Adam Billings, said: “I am extremely proud that Torbay has won four separate awards for the quality of its flowerbeds and horticultural displays at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom Awards.

“Receiving two separate awards for the replanting of our much-loved Italian Gardens, which won Best Horticultural Display and Best Seaside Entry, is an outstanding result that reflects the effort that went into the gardens.

“These high-quality gardens can be enjoyed by both our residents and tourists visiting our bay. This links directly into the English Riviera Destination Management plan, whereby enhancing our natural environment and creating beautiful landscapes, we broaden the year-round appeal of the bay and attract more visitors.

“With a spring in their step and Spring planting uppermost on their minds, TeamSWISCo look forward to creating more plant-based beauty in Torbay and so further realise the English Riviera Bid’s vision of making Torbay a year-round destination.”