Judges come to Weymouth for Britain in Bloom competition

Two judges were invited to walk through the town yesterday to judge the work of Weymouth BID, Weymouth Town Council, Dorset Council and members of the community who have spruced up the town with flowers and plants.

Flowers in Greenhill Gardens Picture: Dorset Echo

The BID, trading as We Are Weymouth, only confirmed the town would participate in the national competition five weeks ago, and got to work installing 311 hanging baskets, organising weed removal, carrying out painting work and deep cleaning to get Weymouth looking its best ahead of judging.

Flowers in Greenhill Gardens Picture: Dorset Echo

Yesterday, judges, representatives from We Are Weymouth and the town's mayor travelled through the town, starting at Greenhill Gardens before taking the land train along the Esplanade to Alexandra Gardens, walking along St Alban Street and St Mary Street, stopping at Town Bridge and then ending at Hope Square, looking at all the flowers that had been installed for the competition.

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The judges were impressed with the work that had gone into decorating the town, and were pleased to see so many people had been involved.

Flowers in Greenhill Gardens Picture: Dorset Echo

Judge Lesley Jellyman said: "The Royal Horticultural Society really wants to recognise everyone and get everyone involved. Only 40 per cent of the marks for the competition are for horticulture - the rest is about community participation and environmental responsibility, and the people of Weymouth play such a key role in that.

"The town is looking beautiful."

Michael Foy, judging, said: "It is great to see good horticulture and the work so many people in the town have done."

Mayor Colin Huckle, Dawn Rondeau from We Are Weymouth, judges from Britain in Bloom and Friends of Greenhill Gardens Picture: Dorset Echo

Tara Williams, parks and open spaces manager at Weymouth Town Council, said: "When the BID said they wanted to do the Britain in Bloom competition we were fully supportive and wanted to do everything we could to assist.

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"In five weeks we have done remarkably well to get this done. The gardeners in Greenhill Gardens have worked really hard and we are very proud to have achieved this in such a short time frame."

Flowers on High West Street Picture: Dorset Echo

Mayor of Weymouth Colin Huckle said: "This is great and a fantastic team effort with so many people involved. It is great for there to be an increased focus on Weymouth's gardens as, because we are a seaside town, a lot of focus is given to the beaches, so it is lovely that the gardens are getting some recognition."

Representatives from We Are Weymouth will be invited to an awards ceremony in Weston-super-Mare next month where they hope they will receive a medal in the 'Best Newcomer' or 'BID' categories.

Judges from Britain in Bloom with ladies from Greenhill CIC Picture: Dorset Echo

Dawn Rondeau, chief operations officer at We Are Weymouth, added: "It would be amazing if we could win a gold after we worked so hard to get the town looking beautiful. I want to make this an annual thing."