Judging for the Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom competition takes place this month and the Bath Business Improvement District (BID) is proud to be taking them on the tour.
Last year, Bath took Gold and BID category leadership in the South West. This year Bath BID has been nominated to the national Britain in Bloom competition, going up against Canary Wharf, Dunfermline, Fareham and Bicester.
Britain’s nationwide gardening competition has been keeping our towns and cities in bloom since 1963. Bloom was started by the British Tourist Authority as a way to attract visitors to the UK through floral displays, so it is fitting that Bath features as a national finalist in 2019.
The city looks so lovely at the moment, filled with flowers, wild grasses, interesting plants and herbs. Parks department have installed the hanging baskets and tiered planters for Bath BID in Milsom Street, New Bond Street, Stall Street, Union Street and beyond.
SouthGate has had an amazing makeover. The pocket parks, the new fruit trees and interesting planters are attracting a lot of positive feedback and Milsom Place is a floral delight with its flower festival. The parks are fresh and bright and Parade Gardens looks splendid with the new bandstand and the 20th anniversary tribute to the RUH Forever Friends Appeal.
It’s good to hear of neighbourhood groups working together to enhance the city and this is particularly effective in Kingsmead Square, Margaret’s Buildings and Walcot Street. The quality of floral displays by individual businesses is very high. Particular favourites include the Ivy Brasserie, The Cork, and Sam Wellers.
Everyone is applauding the wild flowers of the roundabouts, Bath Quays and other areas. Thanks must be extended to Parks Department and to the volunteers from Bath in Bloom and Weston Gardening Club who have revitalised the large beds on Manvers Street, next to the car park. These had unfortunately become a focus for vermin and litter, but are now bright, clean beds full of native species which will grow well and attract pollinators.
Even within an urban environment we can help with biodiversity as well as provide a gorgeous floral welcome to visitors. Our fingers are crossed that the Royal Horticultural Society agrees as they come into the city this month to judge Bath for the Britain in Bloom contest.
NOTES: Britain’s nationwide gardening competition has been keeping our towns and cities in bloom since 1963. Britain in Bloom is the UK’s longest running gardening competition. It provides a regional and nationwide platform for community groups to brighten up their town or city.
Britain in Bloom with the RHS 
- UK’s biggest community gardening campaign involves up to 300,000 passionate local volunteers who work year-round to keep our neighbourhoods and streets green, clean and thriving.
- Bloom was started by the British Tourist Authority as a way to attract visitors to the UK through floral displays. In 2001, the RHS took over as organisers and have developed the campaign to include a greater focus on community participation and environmental responsibility.
- In 2006, the RHS launched a new grass roots level for Bloom – It’s Your Neighbourhood (IYN) – which is aimed at small volunteer groups (such as youth groups, ‘Friends of’ groups, etc.)
- Since 1964, Bloom has evolved from what many saw as a rural hanging basket competition to a major socio-environmental campaign that is improving villages, towns and cities across the UK
About the RHS: The Royal Horticultural Society, the world’s leading gardening charity, was founded in 1804 by Sir Joseph Banks and John Wedgwood. Our vision is to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. This aspiration underpins all that we do, from inspirational gardens and shows, through our scientific research, to our education and community programmes such as Campaign for School Gardening and Britain in Bloom. We produce key publications, hold a world-class collection of horticultural books and botanical art, and sell the very best plants and gardening gifts.
