Blooming marvellous for ‘beautiful’ Lytham

The town won gold and was named Champion of Champions by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) at the ceremony in Cleethorpes on Saturday.

Hailing Lytham the winner the RHS described the town as “the cleanest, greenest and most beautiful location in Britain”.

All of team Lytham’s 130 volunteers were praised at the ceremony.

Roger Burnett, chairman of the RHS Britain in Bloom judging panel, said of Lytham: “It was a true pleasure to visit such wonderful places and meet inspirational people.”

Jim Leak, chairman of Lytham In Bloom, who last year won a NW in Bloom award for outstanding achievement as well as Britain In Bloom recognition as Community Champion, said prior to the judges visits: “A lot of hard work has gone into the displays and we are looking forward to the judges’ visiting.”

Garstang also received a gold award in the small town category.

The town was praised by RHS for its “excellent sense of community pride” and said it had the “finest track records of any bloom group”.

Norah Hoyles, Garstang In Bloom chairman, said entering the awards was vital to the town.

She led a delegation, including Coun Peter Murphy, chairman of Wyre’s Britain in Bloom committee, to Cleethorpes for the announcement of the national results.

She said: “Taking part in Britain in Bloom is so important for Garstang. It encourages tourism and gets local businesses to take an interest and participate.”

This year the Bloom team were proud of their sustainable beds – filled with perennial plants which attracted bees and insects aplenty.

They have won gold in the national finals for several years, but haven’t yet been overall champions.

Elswick and Freckleton also received silver gilt medals in the competition. More than 1,000 communities competed in this year’s awards.

n For more reaction to the Fylde coast’s In Bloom triumphs see tomorrow’s Gazette and Wednesday’s Lytham St Annes Express