Gold award for Rawdon at Yorkshire in Bloom 2024

At an award ceremony held in Tadcaster, Rawdon in Bloom were recognised for their tremendous green fingered efforts in the prestigious competition, picking up a Gold Award in the ‘Urban Communities’ section.

They also received a discretionary award for a competition to celebrate In Bloom's 60th year. To receive the award they entered 60 comments gathered from sixty residents and visitors alike.

New planters in Rawdon (Image: submitted)

The judges said: "The Rawdon In-bloomers continue to be a benchmark example of what a small group of volunteers can achieve with relatively little resource.

"The group pride themselves on sustainability and it was very interesting to hear about their composting programme, passionately led by Amy, with the use of coffee grounds from the local businesses being particularly astute. Unwanted timbers are all put to excellent use to create both stationary and portable planters.

"There are several examples of excellent, well-planned planting schemes, particularly the ones by the Emmot Arms and at Layton Road. The planting of Zinnias seems to counter an unwelcome infestation of slugs and snails – an avenue that appears well worth investigating!

"Many plants are expertly grown in-house, with very few plants bought in. This is to be commended.

"New projects are carefully considered with community buy-in at the fore, and the new, vastly improved planting area at Highfield is a perfect example of this. The footpaths and grass verges are kept clean and well maintained, albeit the group are reliant on local contractors for the majority of the latter."

Glorious colour in newly created garden (Image: submitted)

Judges feedback on areas for consideration included:

Consider painting/treating the wooden planters on Crow Tree Court and continue to work with the grass cutting contractor along the frontage.

• Possibly form a maintenance partnership to regularly weed the planters outside the Turkuaz restaurant.

• Consider any small areas where a small pond could be created and/or wildflower area to boost biodiversity in the entry.

Two new planters either side of a bench on Carr Lane (Image: submitted)

Vice Chairman of Rawdon in Bloom (RIB) Phil Gomersall said they were "over the moon" with the award adding: "The group is always trying to encourage people to help beautify Rawdon. You don't have to have any gardening skills, just watch out for RIB notifications of our work and planting days on FB, WhatsApp, Instagram and the Library notice board and come along with a stout pair of gloves and trowel or a fork or contact us by email at kenRIB@hotmail.com"