Eighth consecutive win for Fareham in the 'In Bloom' Awards

Fareham has won Gold again in the In Bloom awards this year!

Results were announced at Fontwell Race Course, West Sussex yesterday (8th September) and Fareham was once again victorious, achieving Gold in the Small City category for the eighth consecutive year.

Since it began in 1996, Fareham In Bloom has grown into a hugely successful gardening campaign attracting on average 300 entries each year. Organised by the parks and open spaces team at Fareham Borough Council and run by a group of volunteers the campaign is one of the largest of its kind on the south coast. Open to everyone from private garden owners to large businesses it aims to encourage people to make the Borough a beautiful and interesting place to live.

Councillor Connie Hockley, Executive Member for Leisure and Community, said: "For the eighth consecutive year Fareham has excelled in showcasing the best of its parks and horticultural provision across the Borough. I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the tremendous contribution from our dedicated volunteers, who work in partnership with the council's officers to maintain an outstanding award winning Borough."

Both The Sensory Garden of Reflection and Holly Hill Woodland Park were awarded Gold in the Countryside Park category and The Civic Gardens in Fareham was awarded Silver Gilt.

One of Fareham in Bloom's coordinators Pam Chisham received an outstanding achievement award for services to the allotments and In Bloom.

Also part of the Fareham In Bloom Competition is the Open Gardens Scheme, launched in Fareham in 2005 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Fareham in Bloom. The event was such a success that year that it was decided to make it an annual event. On one day a year, award winning gardens from previous Fareham in Bloom community gardening competitions are open to the public to visit and enjoy. It enables other gardeners to visit the gardens, to see what is achievable and encourage them in their own efforts.

You can see the Galleries of photos I took at a few gardens on the website.

Results of the 'Open Gardens' Scheme will be announced shortly!

The 'In Bloom' campaign is not just a local one - national and regional competitions also take place annually.