Anglia in Bloom judges took a tour of Stansted’s horticultural highlights as they got down to marking for this year’s regional competition.
Gardens and allotments were looking at their blooming best for the July 16 judging with the results expected to be announced in September.
Stansted falls into the town category as it has a population between 6,001-12,000 although the hosts stressed they were “very proud” of their rural heritage and still thought of Stansted as a village.
Bentfield Primary School and Nursery showed judges its garden area that is accessible to all children, including those with disabilities. Photo: Trevor Lloyd
Stansted in Bloom co-ordinator Trevor Lloyd said: “We started the day by giving the judges a presentation in the Mountfitchet Exchange – [it] was very well received and got the day off to a good start.”
From there, they ventured into TouchPoint Stansted’s garden, where they met volunteer Keith Johnson and his team, before moving on to the Aubrey Buxton Nature Reserve to meet warden John Welham, who discussed the past year’s work at the reserve.
Bentfield Primary School’s allotment was next on the list followed by Stansted windmill, Stansted Bowls Club, the Memorial Gardens on Chapel Hill, Lower Street and the train station ticket office, which were all considered by the judges.
The judges visit the TouchPoint Stansted garden. Photo: Trevor Lloyd
They then headed off to Elms Farm Allotments to meet the team from community garden group, Human Roots, and then on to St Mary’s Church where they stopped for lunch.
Afterwards they were greeted by enthusiastic young gardens at St Mary’s CofE Foundation Primary.
The village entry is judged against three criteria which are horticulture, environment and community.
Stansted Social Club is also entered into the pub and restaurants category while St Mary’s churchyard is entered in the Closed Churchyards section. In addition, the two primary schools, TouchPoint and Human Roots are entered in the Royal Horticultural Society ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ awards.
The Human Roots community allotment showed judges around its plot at Elms Farm. Photo: Trevor LloydA pupil at St Mary’s CofE Foundation Primary School in Hampton Road greets one of the Anglia in Bloom judges. Photo: Trevor Lloyd
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