Yorkshire In Bloom awards dished out to dedicated volunteers

Jack Mears from Yorkshire in Bloom visited Birstall for the summer competition. (D534D428)

Gongs were handed out to the dedicated volunteers who maintain the district’s towns, villages and attractions at the annual Yorkshire In Bloom awards ceremony.

Birstall’s Oakwell Hall jointly won and received gold in the Country Houses, Estates, Parks and Gardens section with Gomersal’s Red House – described in the judges’ notes as a “hidden oasis.”

St Saviour’s Church in Brownhill bagged gold in the Public, Private and Charitable Establishments category.

Birstall In Bloom took a coveted Silver Gilt for the third time in the Urban Community section.

Dewsbury’s Crow Nest Park was deemed “outstanding” in the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) It’s Your Neighbourhood group, and Fountain Primary School in Morley fetched gold in the Harrogate Flower Show Young People’s Award.

The ceremony was held at York Racecourse today (Tuesday) on the year that the RHS celebrates Britain In Bloom’s 50th anniversary.

Chairwoman of Birstall In Bloom Joanna Cooney said: “We are really delighted that we got a Silver Gilt. We have got 18 members now and it seems to have all come together this year.

“The fact that we work with so many different groups in the village works extremely well. It takes time to grow and establish yourself.”

She added that the judges always mention how impressive it is that the group are at an award-winning standard after only four years together.