Richmond upon Thames has won a Silver Gilt award in this year’s Britain in Bloom competition, after judges said the borough had ‘grasped the mantle of representing London admirably’ in its debut performance.
The Council was praised for encouraging local people to engage in community gardening. Judges made special mention of the allotments at Manor Road, Richmond, the Ham United Group and the ‘inspirational’ improvements the Council has made to Terrace Gardens and Crane Park. They also highlighted a visit to the home of John Welch of Fulwell Park Avenue, who won the best front garden category in the Richmond Borough in Bloom.
The judges’ report heralded the Council’s ‘bold new initiatives’ to increase biodiversity and create sustainable planting. Following a tour of the borough in August, they highlighted the improvements to the fountains at York House Gardens as a ‘great achievement’ and praised the support of the business community, especially traders in Church Street, Twickenham, and pubs across the borough with their ‘vibrant and colourful floral displays’.
Alongside a highly positive report from the judges, advice was also given on how the borough could improve further. The report said while many areas of Richmond upon Thames were very much up to standard, there needed to be a ‘wow factor’ feature. Suggestions from the judges also included installing signs on the Gardens’ vegetable growing areas in Terrace Gardens to help visitors understand the importance of the site. The judges praised the wildflower meadows in Crane Park and proposed they be expanded to other parts of the borough.
