COMPETITIONS

Frankly, and without false modesty, the town’s done blooming well.  We first entered Anglia in Bloom in 1996.  Now look at the list: 

Anglia in Bloom

1996-2002: Best Small Town (exempt 1999) 

1999 and 2003:  Premier Award Winners 

(Changed criteria by the RHS then moved us from ‘Small Town’ to ‘Town’.)

2003: Best Town

2004: Best Town (Silver-Gilt Medal awarded)

2005: Best Town (Gold Medal awarded)

2005: Best Overall Entry

2005: Best Local In Bloom 

2006: Best Town (Gold Medal awarded)

2006: Best Overall Entry

2007: Best Town (Gold Medal awarded)

2008: Best Town (Gold Medal awarded)

2008: Best Overall Entry

2009: Inter-regional Champion of Champions

2009: Gold Medal Awarded

Britain in Bloom

(nominated by Anglia in Bloom to represent the region in the national competition)

Small Town Category

1998: National Finalist

2001: 3^rd Place

2002: RHS Silver Gilt Medal  

Town Category

2003: RHS Silver Medal

2004: barred! (entered by Anglia in Bloom for 3 years in succession) 

2006: Best Town and RHS Gold Medal

RHS National Flowerbed Competition

In both 2003 and 2004 the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) invited Brightlingsea in Bloom to participate in the prestigious National Flower Bed Competition held at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show in Cheshire.  On a minuscule budget and paying their own expenses Bloomers travelled north to take on the big boys from parks and gardens departments of city, metropolitan and district councils.  The aim was to help boost tourism for the town and put Brightlingsea florally on the map as well worth a visit. 

In both years we came back with an RHS Silver Medal!