Bath wins Britain in Bloom 2024

Out of 52 community gardening group finalists, Bath in Bloom has been crowned Overall Winner at the Britain in Bloom UK Finals 2024 held at Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium. The Somerset group also won the Small City category, achieving a Gold award.

This year judges assessed each finalist according to criteria that has horticulture, the environment and community engagement at their core.

Bath in Bloom has been involved in Britain in Bloom since its inception 60 years ago and was the first recipient of the Overall Winner accolade in 1964.

“Britain in Bloom and Bath have been connected right from the start with both celebrating their 60th anniversary in 2024,” says Darren Share, Chair of Judges.

“Britain in Bloom and Bath have been connected right from the start with both celebrating their 60th anniversary in 2024,” says Darren Share, Chair of Judges. “It was clear to see Bath pulled out all the stops to celebrate this momentous event. Along with Bath’s plant choices and quality, one of the standout parts of Bath’s entry was just how much community involvement there is from the Women’s Institute Garden through to guided walks, organic growing, corporate litter picks, volunteer-maintained herbaceous beds and school grounds’ projects. It was clear that everyone in Bath knew about Britain in Bloom and wanted to shout about how proud they were to be part of Bath in Bloom. Well done to all involved.”

Bath Parks Department has an on-site nursery enabling high-quality plants to be produced with a low transportation footprint. The displays, particularly the hanging baskets on Milsom Street and throughout the main retail areas of Bath, have a real wow factor helping draw in visitors.

Good quality herbaceous planting is evident in The Botanical Gardens in Royal Victoria Park, as well as in Manvers Street car park. The latter was initiated and funded by Bath in Bloom and successfully softens the impact of the car park from the street. The planting is designed to be low-maintenance, drought-tolerant and bee-friendly.

Eye-catching planting turns heads in Parade Gardens with its two 3D bees among a sea of marigolds. Art has also been incorporated effectively with Mr Doodle taking over disused telephone boxes planted with seasonal bedding and a spectacular centrepiece in the Parade Gardens in the shape of a Bath in Bloom 60th anniversary sculpture. Trails for Jane Austen, the heritage of historic Sydney Gardens and local trees help boost engagement and awareness.

Bath in Bloom works with Bath and North East Somerset Council, Bath Business Improvement District, a number of community groups, It’s Your Neighbourhood groups, individuals and sponsors. Environmental initiatives include Bathscape, a restoration project for the natural landscape surrounding Bath. Volunteers are involved in surveys, conservation work and access improvements.

Also of note is More Trees for BANES (Bath and North East Somerset), a community-based tree-growing initiative. 11,000 trees have been planted since the project began in 2008. There is also strong school involvement, with raised beds for growing on the saplings in school grounds.

Bath has several large mature trees such as those in Royal Victoria Park, Sydney Gardens and the London Plane in Abbey Green. Regular tree walks are organised by Bath Urban Treescape. Many of the significant trees have nameplates with a QR code linking to information helping visitors and the local community understand the history and importance of the trees.

Bath Organic Group is based in a hidden but beautiful garden adjoining a larger allotment site. It’s an example of a community-led project growing fruit and veg for local people. Bath in Bloom has teamed up with Bath Organic Group to trial the growing from seed of several heritage vegetables to compare with modern varieties that they are also growing. Monthly visits to the local farmers' market raise funds from excess produce, increase awareness of the group and attract new members.

Bath in Bloom engages with communities across the city. There are many ongoing projects with local schools including dipping ponds, planting trees, and creating willow art. One school has grown its own wheat, prepared the grain, milled their own flour, and then baked bread. A practical way to understand growing and a segue into the agriculture that is so important in the area surrounding the city. The Bloom group supports the development of school gardening clubs and many of them now enter an annual Bath in Bloom gardening competition. In addition, the group has also provided funds, seeds and tools for school projects.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary, Bloom volunteers, together with the Bear Flat Residents Association, created a new, small community garden on one of the busiest roads into Bath. The garden was planted with a wide selection of pollinator-friendly perennial flowers and grasses that tolerate sun and dry conditions.

Another example of the coordination between groups and projects across the city was the use of the spoil from the construction of a skate park as an embankment along the edge of the green space in The Botanical Gardens. This serves as a wildlife habitat and a barrier to vehicles parking on the grassland area.

Bath in Bloom has the support of local businesses, many of whom sponsor or look after beds around the city. Individual businesses fund the planting of 40 stone urns surrounding Parade Gardens and 157 hanging baskets in the city centre.

“It’s clear that Bloom in its 60th year has the power to help communities achieve brilliant things benefitting people and places,” says Pak Ling Wan, RHS Community Programme Manager.

“It’s clear that Bloom in its 60th year has the power to help communities achieve brilliant things benefitting people and places,” says Pak Ling Wan, RHS Community Programme Manager. “It’s fantastic to see groups embracing the importance of sustainable gardening methods and once again it’s the volunteers’ devotion to making things happen and motivating others that makes Britain in Bloom such a special campaign. Congratulations to all the 2024 UK finalists.”