Shrewsbury blooms for Heart of England in Bloom judges as town builds on national success
Shrewsbury blooms for Heart of England in Bloom judges as town builds on national success
Shrewsbury was in full bloom on Wednesday 22 July as judges from Heart of England in Bloom toured the town, assessing its horticultural excellence, environmental quality and community spirit.
The day began at the award-winning Love2Stay Touring & Glamping Resort, owned by Salop Leisure, where judges were welcomed with a presentation showcasing the work of the Shrewsbury in Bloom Committee. Working in partnership with Shrewsbury Town Council, the committee continues to champion projects that enhance the town’s green spaces while celebrating the dedication of volunteers, community groups and local organisations.
The judging tour began at the Town Council’s Weeping Cross Nursery, where more than 330,000 plants are grown each year for displays across Shrewsbury. Judges then visited Column Allotments, which were named Aldi’s Community Allotment of the Year in 2025 after being recognised for their commitment to sustainability, their support for local food banks and the strong sense of community created by volunteers across the site. The tour continued to Monkmoor Recreation Ground, where judges met the Town Council’s Recreation and Formal Spaces Team and visited the croquet lawns, home to Shrewsbury Croquet Club, which has reached the quarter-finals of the national cup competition this year. The visit then moved on to Mousefield and the Barnabus Community Hub, highlighting the town’s commitment to biodiversity, community involvement and environmental improvement.
The route then passed through Shrewsbury School, where judges heard how the school works closely with the local community by making its facilities available to local schools and organisations. The driving tour also showcased a number of the Town Council’s recently enhanced floral islands, featuring a blend of traditional annual bedding and more sustainable planting schemes funded by Shrewsbury Town Council. Along the route, judges saw improvements delivered by the Town Council’s Stepping Up team, including the enhancement of pedestrian crossing points around traffic islands, before travelling along The Mount, passing Darwin’s House, where Charles Darwin lived with his family for around 40 years and developed his theory of evolution, one of the most influential scientific ideas in history. The tour then arrived at Shrewsbury Castle to view the Rotary Club’s centenary carpet bed.
During the walking section of the tour, judges experienced the colourful floral displays throughout the town centre, met Town Council staff responsible for maintaining hundreds of hanging baskets and planters, viewed progress on the Smithfield Riverside regeneration, and visited the Quarry and the Dingle, widely regarded as one of the country’s finest public gardens.
The visit concluded in The Square, where judges met community organisations, volunteers, schoolchildren who had taken part in the schools planter competition, representatives from West Mercia Police, the Street Pastors and Shrewsbury Ambassadors, demonstrating the strong partnerships that continue to make Shrewsbury in Bloom such a success.
Stuart Farmer, Chair of the Shrewsbury in Bloom Committee, said:
Following our success in reaching the Britain in Bloom UK Finals last year, we’re determined to build on that momentum. Every year the standard continues to rise, and so does our ambition. Today’s judging was another fantastic opportunity to showcase not only Shrewsbury’s outstanding horticulture, but also the incredible community spirit that makes our town so special.
Britain in Bloom is about so much more than flowers. It’s about volunteers, partnerships, sustainability and civic pride, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped prepare the town for today’s visit.
Rob Wilson, Leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, said:
Last year’s success in the Britain in Bloom UK Finals was a tremendous achievement for everyone involved and something the whole town could be proud of. It demonstrated what can be achieved when residents, volunteers, businesses and council staff all work towards a shared goal.
We’ve continued to invest in our parks, green spaces and floral displays while also improving the wider environment through our Stepping Up and Street cleansing teams. Today’s judging was another opportunity to showcase the pride people have in Shrewsbury and the collaborative approach that continues to make the town flourish.
The Heart of England in Bloom judging is one of the highlights of the horticultural calendar and provides an opportunity to celebrate the people, partnerships and projects that make Shrewsbury one of the country’s leading Bloom towns.
The judges’ results will be announced later this year.