Britain in Bloom 2007 - Judges Report

For information on this year's Kendal in Bloom competition please click here

Large Town/Small City (12k-35k), Silver Award

Situated at the southern edge and bordering the Lake District National Park, Kendal, famous for its mint cake amd home of Alfred Wainwright, is a tourist destination in its own right.  With shopping arcades, historic buildings, and attractive residential yards branching from the main street, Kendal has much to offer the visitor.  The town is enhanced by colourful floral displays and well-maintained private gardens as well as attractive countryside provided by Serpentine Woods, the River Kent and Kendal Castle Hill.

SUMMER JUDGING

Floral Displays

The judges were particularly impressed with:

• The attractive floral displays at the town entrances, Wainwright's Yard, the Town Hall and the Birdcage
• The quality of baskets at Fryday's Fish and Chips, The Old Fleece and the Castle Green Hotel
• The excellent floral front garden (and bank opposite) belonging to Mr and Miss Staveley.

Areas suggested for future development:

• Review the decision to give free small hanging baskets to traders as they provide little effect on the street scene.  Concentrate on promoting the Bloom message to them with view to supplying sizeable baskets at a reasonable price that will enhance the local environment.  Also seek greater participation from the commercial sector.
• Involve children on designing and planting flower beds
• Let the judges see the quality of plants in flower beds in parks rather than view from a distance.

Permanent Landscaping, Including Shrubs

The judges were particularly impressed with:

• The excellent maintenance of the shrub areas around car parking bays at Murley Moss Business Park by Horticare
• The well-landscaped grounds of the Castle Green Hotel
• The quality of permanent planting in many of the residential areas, including the impressive small garden's at Webster's Yard
• The involvement of the children in the courtyard garden at Vicarage Park Primary School.

Areas for suggested future development:

• Add trailing plant material to the new tree planters in the town centre
• Seek greater community involvement in new planting schemes and their subsequent maintenance
• Consider replacing the tubs containing seasonal displays in the verge opposite the college with a bed of permanently planted sustainable plants.

Local Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development

The judges were particularly impressed with:

• The use of seats and picinic tables in prominent locations made from recycled material
• Serpentine Woods with its community-led alphabet trail and the Burton Road verges managed for wildlife.

Areas suggested for future development:

• In order for visitors to fully appreciate Serpentine Woods a display panel with a map of the layout is required at the main entrance together with information as to local availability of the alphabet and nature trail publications
• Consider providing an update of the nature trail booklet and undertake new species surveys
• It is suggested that in future a member of Cumbria Wildlife Trust of Countryside Officer be available to discuss the management of Serpentine Woods and wildlife importance.

Local Environment Quality

The judges were particularly impressed with:

• The slate panels depicting the Lakeland fells in Wainwright's Yard
• Anti-litter campaign led by the Westmorland Gazette, the involvement of the Beaver Scout pack and other community groups in litter picking and the provision of free pocket ashtrays
• Well maintained street furniture.

Areas suggested for future development:

• Continue to engage the community and visitors in the anti-litter campaign and address the problem of weeds growing in hard surfaces
• Seek to get improvements to the recycling area at Asda, including the refurbishment of the containers
• Continue to seek the cooperation of dog owners in the prevention of fouling on Castle Hill.

Public Awareness

The judges were impressed with:

• The display of the Britain in Bloom logo on competition entry forms and traders leaflets, and the use of 20 second flash advertising at the local cinema
• Part sponsorship of new trees and tubs in the main street by British Gas following essential works.

Areas suggested for future development:

• Seek to increase sponsorship for future Bloom projects.

'UNANNOUNCED JUDGING'

Horticultural Effort 

The judges were particularly impressed with:

• The quality of planting, standard of maintenance and colour in front gardens
• The high standard of landscaping and maintenance at Murley Moss Business Park and Castle Green Hotel
• Good floral displays in roadside flower beds and evidence of naturalised daffodil planting in verges.

Areas suggested for future development:

• Seek the co-operation of those commercial premises where last year's hanging baskets have not been removed by requesting them to be removed at the end of the flowering season
• Efforts need to be made to reduce the number of dandelions in the grass around the car park at the hospital.  Also there is evidence in places of rather more weed killer being used around obstacles than is necessary to assist mowing operations.
• Replace the tree guard at Beck Community Centre with something more appropriate.

Local Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development

The judges were impressed with:

• Serpentine Woods and the excellent information to be found on the web
• Kendal Castle Hill.

Areas for suggested future development:

• On site signage/map for Serpentine Woods to aid visitors.

Local Environment Quality

The judges were particularly impressed with:

• The overall cleanliness of Kendal
• The attractive Welcome to Kendal entrance signs.