Ryde In Bloom

Ryde in Bloom is facilitated by the Town Council and delivered by a working party that includes Councillors, a gardens expert and the chair of the local business association. The whole community is encouraged to enter, whether it be for Allotment of the Year of for a window box and the judges are keen to encourage environmentally friendly and sustainable planting. Previous entries received ranged from a an 8 year old who has designed a miniature garden in a wheelbarrow to Quarr Abbey Gardens and Farm, an oasis of calm and tranquillity on the site of a monastery.

The competition is advertised and featured in the local press. Local schools have their own competition with the majority of primary schools taking part.

The Business Association works closely with the In Bloom Working Party to promote the competition via social media (Twitter and Facebook) and will be podcasting about the winning entries after the local judging has taken place. The Working Party also works with individual businesses to provide hanging baskets, project support and to seek support for other in bloom projects – an example of this is the used coffee grounds supplied by Costa to allotment holders and to the Aspire Community Garden and the hanging baskets supplied to the Pavilion Bar on Ryde Esplanade.

RYDE IN BLOOM AWARDS 2019

The Ryde in Bloom Awards Ceremony was held on the 18th September at the Royal Esplanade Hotel. Ryde in Bloom is an opportunity for gardeners to showcase their talents whilst contributing to brightening up the town and community spaces. Judging took place in July, entrants scored points for design, sustainability and overall attractiveness.

The judges were pleased with the exceptionally high standard of this year’s entries with the overall winner, Mr Brett, also winning this year’s ‘Wight in Bloom’ it really does prove that Ryde has the best gardens! Also attracting praise from the judges was Keith Bloomfield’s allotment garden at Quarry Rd, impressing the judges by creating the most remarkable site a testament to Mr Bloomfield’s hard work and dedication.

The schools that entered Ryde in Bloom enjoyed an afternoon tea with the Mayor as well as receiving their awards. The Town Council would like to thank George Rollason and Elizabeth Van Wyk for their help launching the School’s competition back in April. They worked with the children to plant all of their plants from seed which were kindly donated by Tesco.

The Town Council would like to thank all that entered the competition this year, the standard of all entries was high giving the judges a few tough decisions to make!

Winners

Category 1 Best Individual Garden & Overall Winner Mr F Brett

Category 2 Best Use of Limited Space John Cavanagh

Category 3 Businesses and Commercial Premises House of Zabre

Category 4 Community Group / Space Frances Redman

Category 5 Tourist Attractions Old Mill Holiday Park

Category 6 Best School Greenhaven at Greenmount

Category 7 Allotment of the Year Keith Bloomfield

Category 8 Young Persons Award Lucas Richards

Community Champion Cup Keith Bloomfield

John Warner Cup Lucas Richards

Highly Commended awards went to: Mr C Critchlow, Mr G Hencher and Mrs G Harrison.