BRITAIN In Bloom “It’s Your Neighbourhood” Royal Horticultural Society competition judge, Lynette Talbot, visited 15 voluntary community groups in Crediton to give support, feedback, and recognition for their efforts to green up and clean up their local environment on Thursday and Friday, July 13 and 14.

The event was organised by Michael Szabo, Town Councillor and Chairman of the Floral Crediton Committee, who was delighted with the number and quality of groups taking part, which included, Save the House Martins of Westernlea, Boniface Rotary, Age Concern Crediton, Friends of People’s Park, Hillbrow Residential Care Home, Friends of Crediton Railway Station, Newcombes Meadow Community Group, Crediton Lions, Keep Crediton Clean, Moffats Land Allotments, Crediton Bowling Club, Friends of the Town Square, Friends of Longmeadows, Friends of Orchard Court, and Friends of Mill Street.

The It’s Your Neighbourhood campaign, which is part of the Britain In Bloom programme, is based on three core pillars: Voluntary Community Participation, Environmental Responsibility, and Gardening Achievement.

All groups who take part will receive a certificate of achievement based on five levels of criteria at the Awards Presentation on Thursday, October 5 at the Palace Hotel, Torquay.

Soon after that, Crediton groups will be invited to a local presentation at the Council Offices in Crediton when a guest presenter from Britain In Bloom will also attend.

Cllr Szabo said: “Personally, I was very pleased to see the team at Age Concern had used the grant given to them by the Town Council, to invest in gardening equipment, tools and seeds etc, which has allowed the elderly members to get involved in planting and growing vegetables, and harvesting them for their meals, bringing joy to everyone, now and in the future. Outstanding.”

Alan Quick