EXMOUTH IN BLOOM ANNUAL AWARDS PRESENTATION EVENING.
Around 80 local residents were joined by Exmouth’s Mayor and Town Crier, at Sun Lodge, Exmouth, recently, to spend a wonderful evening, (generously sponsored by Kings Garden and Leisure Exmouth), celebrating Exmouth in Bloom’s successes in this our Golden 50th Anniversary year.
Committee members spent the afternoon preparing the room, the food, the raffle and the technology for the celebration.
We are very proud to announce that Exmouth has, once more, retained its reputation as the ‘Town of Flowers’ with our nineteenth South West in Bloom GOLD Award in succession, since the RHS took over the Competition in 2001.
In addition we received two special Discretionary Awards: The Budge Shield for the Best Utilisation of Social Media, which was presented by honoured guest, Bloom judge /mentor Christine Fraser, to Marion Drew. She also presented the South West in Bloom Alf Crouch Memorial Trophy to Exmouth in Bloom’s Secretary, Sharon Darton. The award recognises and appreciates the exceptional work and outstanding services that Sharon provides to the ‘Bloom’ cause. 
Christine went on to present eleven South West in Bloom ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ (IYN) awards to the following recipients:
Hamilton Road Allotments (Outstanding), Lambeth Walk Local Community Project (Outstanding), Summerleaze Residential Care Home (Thriving), Madeira Bowling Club (Outstanding), The Swan Project (Outstanding), Bystock Pools and Mindfulness Trail ( Outstanding), Manor Lodge Residential Care Home (Thriving)Waverley Road Community Lockdown Gardens (Thriving), Bicton Inn and Immediate Area (Outstanding), The Waterwheel Project (Thriving), Littleham Cof E Primary School Gardening Club (Thriving)
Huge congratulations go to them all for their exceptional work to achieve such excellent results.
The Local Gardening Competition Awards followed, with Exmouth’s Mayor, Councillor Steve Gazzard presenting the certificates, cups and winners vouchers from Kings Garden and Leisure.
There were 9 classes this year, judged during July, all of which had to be viewable from the pavement due to Covid restrictions. There were 103 entries in total.
Class 1. Hanging Basket/ Containers
Highly Commended: L. Robinson Pratt
Silver: A. Mortimer and N. Cox, Mr. and Mrs. Huntley, Exmouth House, J. Collier-Marsh.
Silver-Gilt: A.Sleeman, A. Holman, C. Emms, P.Abbott
Gold: E.Tant Manor Lodge, Strand Inn, C.Ashby-Crane, C. and L. Pearcey, P.West,
Class Winner: S.Rich.
Class 2. Edible Basket or Border.
Gold: Scott Drive Church / Esteem Team
Class Winner: A. Urquiza,
Class 3. Front Gardens under 4m
Highly Commended: S.Woodbridge, L.Wheeler, S.Wall, A.Urquiza, E.Tant, K. and B.Smith, A Mortimer and N.Cox, S. and M. Jepps, M.Hartley, E Drinkall, I. Allchurch.
Silver: L.Robinson Pratt, J, McDonnell, Mr. and Mrs Huntley, R Eglington and A Stewart, L.Cook, J.Brown, C. Ashby-Crane.
Silver-Gilt: P.Abbott
Gold: A.Holman, C Reeves, C.Emms,
Class Winner: S. Dombkowski.
Class 4. Front Gardens over 4m
Highly Commended: C.Strong, Mr and Mrs Coole, A. Sleeman.
Silver: Manor Lodge, M. Holman.
Gold: P.West, R. and W. Davies
Class Winner: S.Rich
Class 5. With Wildlife in Mind
Silver: S Wall,
Silver-Gilt: L.Robinson-Pratt. Exmouth House
Gold: A Urquiza, S.Rich, N.Bond C.Strong, R Johnson.
Class Winner: Mr and Mrs Coole.
Class 6. Display in an Unusual Recycled Item.
Highly Commended: S.Wall, A Urquiza, S.Rich, Exmouth House, L.Cook, J.Collier-Marsh, P.Abbott.
Silver: A. Sleeman C and L Pearcey
Silver-Glt C.Reeves.
Gold: H.Taylor, D.Clarke
Class Winner: A. Brockbank (Bicton Inn)
Class 7. Business Premises
Gold: Cats Motel, Bicton Inn
Class Winner: Strand Inn.
Class 8. Residential Homes
Silver: Exmouth House
Gold: Manor Lodge
Class Winner: Summerleaze
Class 9. Community Effort
Gold: Scott Drive Church, Rope Walk, Waverley Road Community Lockdown Gardens, Bicton Inn
Class winner: Madeira Bowling Club
(Category winners seen here with their awards).
Overall Winner:
Runner-up: S. Dombkowski (Right)
Winner: D. Clarke, The Strand Inn
The Exmouth in Bloom Committee would like to thank and congratulate everyone who entered, the judges and all who worked so hard to make this event such a success.