‘Perfect’ St Ives awarded gold by judges in Anglia in Bloom competition

Judges looking around St Ives (Image: Archant)

Setting their sights on the achievement almost a decade ago, the committee and its team have now created a horticultural haven, beating the likes of March, Rayleigh, and Ware.

Marney Hall, chairman of the committee, said: “It’s been a long time coming and we’ve had silver gilts for three years, so we pulled out all the stops this year and did everything the judges wanted us to do.

“To be awarded gold out of whole of the region is a tremendous achievement. We have been trying so hard and it was absolutely amazing and we were all over the moon.”

The town also received an award for Best Conservation Project on September 6, thanks to nature reserve Holt Island, as well as being a runner-up for the Environmental Quality prize and taking home a silver gilt for Broad Leas Cemetery.

Jeff Taylor: Moreen Wells and Marney Hall receiving the award. (Image: Archant)

“It makes a difference to how the town feels. One of the judges, who hadn’t been to St Ives before, said he was going to bring his family back.

“A huge amount of work went into making sure the route the judges walked was perfect on the day. When they came to see us they said our town was absolutely fantastic and that it was amazing how beautiful the whole route looked.”

Some 10 committee members, hoards of volunteers, and more than 1,000 school children took part in this year’s effort, painting benches, planting beds, vegetables, and weeding.

Sites all over the town were transformed for the Anglia in Bloom competition, including the Park and Ride with work sponsored by firms including Mick George.