Britain in Bloom’s ‘Town’ winners are Forres In Bloom
Green-fingered volunteers from the area won awards in two categories at a national ceremony in Manchester on Monday evening.
Forres In Bloom (FIB) representatives, chairwoman Diane McGregor, secretary Sandra Maclennan and fellow volunteer Ian Maclennan were honoured to accept a gold accolade and overall title in the ‘Town’ category, as well as a Discretionary Award during the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom Finals in the Executive Club Suite in the Alex Ferguson Stand at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Sandra said: “There were five Scottish entrants represented - some of whom who also won awards - but we were the only category winner from Scotland.
“Everyone wants gold awards but it was amazing to also win an overall category considering the standard of the other nominees from across Britain. That was just the crème de la crème for us!”
FIB and with North Berwick were joint winner's of Beautiful Scotland's premier award, The Rosebowl Trophy, in September 2023, automatically qualifying for the RHS Britain in Bloom competition this year.
A total of 52 finalists from across the UK competed to be winner in one of 11 categories.
Chairwoman of the Britain in Bloom judges, Darren Share, highlighted FIB’s adherence to this year’s competition criteria of ‘plants, people and planet’.
He added: “Huge congratulations to all of the finalists in the competition’s 60th anniversary year. Each group demonstrated the creativity, hard work, and commitment to sustainability that Britain in Bloom has championed for six decades.
“It is wonderful to see the passion and dedication of these hardworking groups in bringing together communities across the UK and make a lasting impact on our local environments.”
The judges confirmed they were particularly impressed with the “outstanding bedding displays, planters and baskets throughout the town”.
Mr Share added: “The Wee FIBbees (the Wee Forres in Bloom bees) were cited as an outstanding example of education with schools, enabling children to grow vegetables, tender perennials and annuals.
“Forres demonstrated that biodiversity is at the heart of all their activities, with plans to carry out wildflower turf trials along with the grafting and distribution of heritage apple trees in Mannachie Park and around the community.”
Sandra had hoped that the FIB’s junior division might get a Discretionary Award, featuring as they did on BBC 1’s The One Show on Friday and Monday evening.
The group were consoled when member Barry Ashby received one instead.
Sandra explained: “Barry’s was well deserved. He’s worked on the roundabout at The Victoria Hotel and the War Memorial, day in, day out, for the last 10 years. He asked to take responsibility for the memorial as a former RAF serviceman and his efforts deserved to be recognised.
“He’s one of our most committed, hard-working volunteers.”
Britain in Bloom’s overall winner was announced on The One Show - Bath in Bloom also achieved a gold medal in the ‘Small City’ category.
RHS head of national community programmes, Sarah Galvin, said Bath in Bloom showed outstanding horticultural displays as well as dedication to community and the environment.
She added: “They were the first ever winners of the competition so it’s a great pleasure to be able to crown them champions once again in this special anniversary year.
“Over the past six decades, Britain in Bloom has evolved from what many saw as a rural hanging basket competition to a major socio-environmental campaign that is improving villages, towns and cities across the UK.”
Meanwhile, FIB is already planning for 2025.
“We’re currently lifting the summer bedding and preparing the spring bedding,” finished Sandra. “We’re washing pots for storage and we’ve ordered plants for next year.”
