THERE were audible gasps followed by resounding applause when the curtains were rolled back in Newton St Cyres Village Hall to reveal the results of the village’s first-ever entry into the South West in Bloom competition.

Newton St Cyres Primary School received a School IYS award Level 4 (out of 5) award in the South West in Bloom competition. AQ 5209
Newton St Cyres Primary School received a School IYS award Level 4 (out of 5) award in the South West in Bloom competition. AQ 5209 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

In front of a large banner flag announcing that Newton St Cyres had won a Gold Award, there stood an array of trophies and framed certificates, all won this year in the popular annual gardening and environmental competition run by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Christine Fraser, who co-ordinated the Newton St Cyres entry in the competition, said: “We did ridiculously well for first-timers.

“We received GOLD for the Village Entry, BEST Pennant entry in Devon (cup), BEST SW Region New Entry (cup), BEST use of Native Plants (Silver salver), School IYS award Level 4 (out of 5) ...and icing on the cake: the CPRE Regional Environmental Award for Newton St Cyres Arboretum!

Receiving one of the awards at the South West in Bloom ceremony at Torquay, Newton St Cyres representatives from left, Christine Fraser, Lady Emma Kitchener-Fellowes (who presented the awards; Cllr Liz Ouldridge, The Mayor of Torbay, Julie Furniss and Cathy Yate.
Receiving one of the awards at the South West in Bloom ceremony at Torquay, Newton St Cyres representatives from left, Christine Fraser, Lady Emma Kitchener-Fellowes (who presented the awards; Cllr Liz Ouldridge, The Mayor of Torbay, Julie Furniss and Cathy Yate. (South West in Bloom/RHS)
Newton St Cyres Arboretum received the CPRE Regional Environmental Award much to the delight of volunteer Margaret Ware and Arboretum chair Andrew Gee. AQ 5217
Newton St Cyres Arboretum received the CPRE Regional Environmental Award much to the delight of volunteer Margaret Ware and Arboretum chair Andrew Gee. AQ 5217 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

“On Wednesday Liz Ouldridge (Chair of the Parish Council), Julie Furniss, Cathy Yate, Paul Collier and I attended the South West in Bloom Awards at the Riviera Centre, Torquay, for a day of results and, in many cases, ‘celebration’!

“The Arboretum Coffee Morning team kindly offered to host The Big Reveal locally on Saturday morning.

“This is the first year we, as a Village, have entered this competition and with the collective effort of the community we have achieved outstanding results.

“We are all very pleased.”

Christine added: “The judges commented on so much, particularly on the community orchard which provides food for the local community, about the Village Green rewilding, the community allotments which support local food production and were incredibly impressed with the arboretum.”

Julie Furniss, left, and Christine Fraser, right, of Newton St Cyres in Bloom with South West in Bloom judges Barbara Hannan and Bob Ollier at Newton St Cyres railway station
Julie Furniss, left, and Christine Fraser, right, of Newton St Cyres in Bloom with South West in Bloom judges Barbara Hannan and Bob Ollier at Newton St Cyres railway station (Will Goddard, Crediton Courier)

It was in July that two South West in Bloom judges toured the village.

Starting at The Beer Engine pub, Bob Ollier and Barbara Hannan visited the railway station, the primary school, the arboretum, the village beekeepers and many other community projects.

They provided valuable feedback after the results were announced.

The South West Region includes Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, North Avon, Wiltshire and the eastern areas of Dorset. It is a very large region and attracts hundreds of Bloom entries each year.