Nantwich in Bloom Committee Chairman, Doug Butterill, and his wife, Penny, receive Nantwich's Britain in Bloom award from BBC television personality, Matt Baker

NANTWICH has become the holder of a Silver-gilt award in the Best Town in the UK category  in the nationwide Britain in Bloom Competition AND a Gold award for the best town in the North West in Bloom competition. 

   The awards mark the efforts of the Nantwich in Bloom Committee to brighten the town florally in two separate annual competitions.

  The silver-gilt award in the Best Town category (North West) came in the annual Britain in Bloom competition organised throughout the UK in 2012 by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Members of the Nantwich committee travelled to Guernsey to receive the award.

  There were six categories in the North West section - best city, best large town, etc - with Oldham winning a silver-gilt and category award. There were 37 silver-gilt awards in all, and 24 gold medals.

   The Champion of Champions award went to the large village of Broughshane in  County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

   Awards in the competition were presented by BBC Television presenter - "The One Show" and "Countryfile" - Matt Baker in a ceremony held in St Peter Port,  Guernsey,

  There were 72 finalists in the competition, chosen from 1,200 UK community garden champions. Of these, 450 were represented at the awards presentation ceremony.  

    A team of 14 volunteers judges, led by the chairman of the RHS Britain in Bloom UK Judging Panel, Roger Burnett, toured the UK in July and August visiting each

 finalist. They came to Nantwich on August 3.

    Nantwich's entry is a result of the work put in by the Nantwich in Bloom Committee, a task they carry out every year. The committee acknowledges the support they get from the Cheshire East Streetscape service.

RHS website | Floral Guernsey website | Nantwich in Bloom index

It's gold in the North West

THE Gold award in the North West in Bloom awards was received by Nantwich in Bloom Committee members in a ceremony in the Conference Centre in Southport.

   Pictured are: Doug Butterill (Chairman), Sue Hughes (Secretary), Connie Jones, David Smith and Tom Deans (Committee) and Mark Betteley (Treasurer). On the right is the guest of honour for the evening, Stephen Lowe from Radio Lancashire, who presented the awards.  

   Also among the winners were Richmond Village, Nantwich, who received a Gold award as the best residential home. The best large village was Audlem who received a silver award thanks to the efforts of Audlem District Amenities Society and local people, businesses and organisations. The best small town award went to Willaston who received a silver-gilt award.    

Picture by Mike Coleran Photography (www.coleran.co.uk).

The awards that went to commercial premises

COMMERCIAL premises in Nantwich were judged by Margaret Thrower on behalf of Nantwich in Bloom.

    The winners were:

Gold awards: Peter Wilson Fine Art Auctioneers, Market Street; Barrington Cooper Taylor, Barker Street; and Nantwich Chiropody Clinic, Mill Street.

Silver awards: Hall, Smith and Whittingham, Dysart Buildings; D&D Tyres, Beam Heath Way; and Churche's Mansion, Hospital Street.

Bronze awards: Crewe and Nantwich Physiotherapy Clinic, Princes Court, Beam Heath Way; Nantwich Veterinary Group, Crewe Road End; and Ozfit Physio, Welsh Row.