Communities, businesses, schools, and volunteers from across Newark and Sherwood have been recognised at this year's East Midlands in Bloom Awards, with a number of local entries receiving regional honours.
Several of the successful entries were supported by Newark and Sherwood District Council, highlighting the strong partnership working taking place across the district to enhance public spaces, encourage biodiversity and foster community pride.
Edwinstowe achieved an impressive Gold award in the ‘Small Town’ category, while Newark was awarded Silver Gilt in the ‘Large Town’ category following its East Midlands in Bloom tour. These accolades recognise the dedication of volunteers, community groups, businesses, parish councils, and council officers who work together to create attractive, welcoming, and environmentally sustainable places. The awards reflect a shared commitment to enhancing local spaces, supporting biodiversity and ensuring communities can take pride in where they live.
The district also celebrated a number of category successes. The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Gardens in Newark was named Best Wildflower and Conservation Area, recognising its important role in supporting local wildlife and biodiversity, while The Castle Barge received the award for Best Pub in East Midlands in Bloom.
Thoresby Vale Primary Academy in Edwinstowe also received the Silver Gilt award and Best School Garden for Fruit and Vegetables, with King Edwin Primary School receiving Silver and Barnby Road Primary School receiving Bronze.
Other winners include:
- Village Category: North Muskham – Silver Gilt
- Village Category: Halam – Silver
- Small Town Category: Collingham – Silver Gilt
Councillor Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said:
These awards are a fantastic recognition of the hard work taking place across Newark and Sherwood to create attractive, vibrant and sustainable places for our residents and visitors. We're proud to have worked alongside community groups, schools, businesses, parish councils, and volunteers on a number of the award-winning projects. These results demonstrate what can be achieved through strong partnership working and reflect the Council's ongoing commitment to protecting and enhancing our green spaces, supporting biodiversity and helping our communities take pride in their local environment. Congratulations to everyone involved in this year's awards and thank you for the contribution you continue to make to our district.
Carol Hallam, an Edwinstowe resident who works hard to support her local community said:
This amazing achievement is testament to the all year-round efforts of our volunteers, community organisations, local businesses, schools and councils all working together. It’s never just about the flowers, it’s about the real community involvement and we thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts. Edwinstowe is a place to be proud of.
Kay Bellhouse, a resident from Newark who helps support her local community said:
I am proud to see just how many volunteer groups there are making a difference to our flora and fauna here in Newark. Thanks to the support of Newark and Sherwood District Council and its road crew - we were able to be awarded Silver Gilt on the East Midlands in Bloom tour this year. Barnby Road Academy entered the school tour for the first time and achieved the Bronze level. Together, with the number one spots in East Midlands Tour for The Library Gardens and The Castle Barge pub, we were extremely pleased.
Ash Kitchen, Street Scene Manager at Newark and Sherwood District Council said:
These results are something everyone involved should be incredibly proud of. In Bloom might culminate in judging and awards, but the work behind those results happens 365 days a year. For me, one of the most important things about In Bloom is that it isn't simply about producing colourful flower displays. It's about creating well-managed, sustainable places where people want to live, work, and visit. Increasingly that means thinking about biodiversity, wildflowers and pollinators alongside traditional horticulture, as well as keeping our streets and public spaces clean and well maintained.
Our Street Scene teams play an important part, but these achievements simply wouldn't happen without the volunteers, schools, businesses, parish and town councils and community organisations who give their own time and enthusiasm to their local areas.
What particularly stands out this year is the breadth of the success – from Gold in Edwinstowe and Silver Gilt in Newark, to conservation, schools, businesses and villages receiving recognition. It shows what can be achieved when the Council and communities work together with a shared sense of pride in where we live.
A huge thank you must go to everyone involved. These awards belong to the communities just as much as they do to any individual organisation or team.
The East Midlands in Bloom Awards recognise environmental quality, horticultural achievement and community participation across the region and form part of the wider Britain in Bloom campaign.
