Britain In Bloom competition judges were left ‘blooming impressed’ when they visited Highbridge during their formal assessment of the town on Thursday (July 7th).
Judges Tony Moore and Nick Jones were given an official welcome to the town by Mayor Michael Clarke and members of the Highbridge In Bloom committee, as pictured, before they were taken on a tour.
The group’s Joyce Curtis, Pam Lyes, Bill Fisher and Phil Lyes showed the judges around the many colourful displays that have burst into bloom in recent weeks.
Pam Lyes, secretary of Highbridge In Bloom, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Our first port of call was the church garden, which the judges much admired, then we went to the cauldrons around the First World War Memorial in Church Street.”
“The tour took in several of this year’s impressive neighbourhood entries at Morland Hall and Apex Parkn and we also stopped at the newly-constructed bogey wheels at Walrow, which the judges were interested to hear depict an important part of Highbridge’s rich industrial history.”
“They were also fascinated with the Walrow fishing lakes where they met Fishing Club Chairman Maurice White, who gave them an account of the old brickyard workings. Members also admired the wild chicory growing there.”
Pam added: “Then we went on to Highbridge Station which they were really impressed with, saying it is the cleanest station they had seen in the whole area.”
“Severnside Community Rail Partnership have provided us with a new floral container which has been planted up and they also provided poster cases to display paintings by the children of Highbridge Dreamscheme.”
“The judges said they very much admire the Dreamscheme and met with several of the group’s committee members who gave them an insight into the running of the group.”
“There was also a new large floral bed on the station approach road which had been constructed by Sedgemoor District Council which they agreed further enhanced the station car park area.”
“We then went on to Arthur Burridge’s community garden at Southwell Crescent, and General Higgins House Gardens – both of which have been entered in the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ contest, as was Bill Fisher’s Community Garden at Clover Way.”
“We finished the tour by visiting the town centre to see Alpha House gardens, the Town Green and Jubilee Gardens – all of which received the judges’ admiration.”
Pam added: “Grateful thanks go to Keith Cann and his support team at Sedgemoor District Council’s Clean Surroundings Team for all their hard work to make this judging day such a success.”
And Trish Hart from Highbridge Dreamscheme told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The judges were very interested in the Dreamscheme and what we are doing here in Highbridge with the youths. They were impressed with what we had achieved with the display cases and the hanging baskets and congratulated all the helpers.”
The town now faces a two-month wait to hear how whether the town has followed its success of last year when it won a silver gilt award. The Britain In Bloom awards ceremony will be held in Newquay on 15th September. Meanwhile, Burnham-On-Sea is now making its own final preparations for the judges’ visit to the town this coming Monday.
