We did it – Sherborne In Bloom won the Preece Cup!

In the South West In Bloom Presentation Event at the Westland Leisure Complex in Yeovil, Sherborne was awarded the highest prize in its class: a Gold award and the Preece Cup.

In what was termed the largest ‘In Bloom’ event ever to be held in the country, 450 delegates from around the South West region gathered together to see who had been awarded what in the 2009 regional contest.

Pictured here are the Sherborne contingent who attended the awards ceremony, holding the certificates and cup that we took away. On the right is Barry Cruse, one of the two judges who marked us in the competition.

The Preece Cup is a major award for the town in a very competitive category.

Caz Rowland

Caz Rowland, the lead co-ordinator for Sherborne In Bloom, was delighted with the town’s achievement:  ‘So many people have worked so hard for our entry this year and I am delighted that their efforts have been so richly rewarded.

A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who took part – we can be rightly proud of our town and its hard-working and gifted gardeners! Now that we know that Sherborne is up there with the winners in the region, our task for 2010 is to stay there…’

Preece Cup

Sherborne’s success came in the year that the judging criteria were changed to include more emphasis on environmental responsibility.

In their appraisal of the town’s entry, the judges mentioned our impressive heritage, our recycling and environmental credentials, the excellent wildlife areas and the contribution made by so many individuals and groups within the community.

In these difficult times it is great to have some good news to share.

Well done, Sherborne!

If you have occasion to visit Sherborne’s Police Station you cannot fail to be impressed by the sunflowers now on display.

Mandy James, the Desk Sergeant, tells us that the Police Station has now become a tourist attraction with coaches slowing down to see it as they drive down Digby Road. And last week a coach stopped and disgorged 24 old ladies who all got out and took photographs.

Who would have thought that Sherborne nick could get famous for all the right reasons?