Yesterday, we were proud to welcome Brendan Mowforth and Andrew Jackson to Shrewsbury. The Britain in Bloom judges were visiting the town to mark the town's entry in the Small City & City category for the Britain in Bloom UK Finals, as the town continues its long-standing tradition of floral excellence, environmental responsibility, and strong community involvement.
The day began at 9am at Salop Leisure’s Love2Stay, where the judges were welcomed with an introductory presentation outlining the town’s entry. The presentation highlighted the wide-ranging efforts made by local community groups, volunteers, and council teams to make Shrewsbury a greener, more vibrant place to live and visit.
The first site visit was to Shrewsbury Town Council’s Weeping Cross Nursery, where more than 300,000 plants are grown each year for display across the town’s public spaces. The judges learned that Weeping Cross is also home to the Town Council’s tree nursery, developed with DEFRA funding, supporting the “Recycle Your Unwanted Trees” campaign and helping to increase the town’s tree stock and biodiversity.
While at the nursery, judges also met with representatives from Condover College, whose students regularly work at the site as part of their inclusive employment and skills training programme.
This marked the start of a comprehensive tour, which included a drive through the Oteley Road development to showcase how new housing projects are incorporating accessible and well-maintained public open spaces that promote residents’ health and well-being.
At Stanley Lane Recreation Ground, judges met members of the Meole Brace Village Residents Association, who highlighted recent community-led improvements including new pathways, solar lighting, tree planting, and the installation of benches. A visit to the adjacent Stanley Lane Allotments followed, where judges heard from the allotment association—currently celebrating their 75th anniversary in 2025—about their long-standing commitment to sustainable and collaborative growing practices.
The judges were then welcomed by members of the Shropshire Beekeepers Association, recipients of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2024, who explained their work supporting pollinators and delivering education programmes across the county.
At Copthorne Park, members of Shrewsbury Town Council’s Countryside Team and the Friends of Copthorne Park shared details of the council’s forward-thinking approach to environmental management and community stewardship. The discussion emphasised the importance of long-term sustainability and the positive impacts of green space on well-being.
The tour continued through the grounds of Shrewsbury School, down into Coleham, and onto the Barnabas Centre, where the judges visited the Shrewsbury Food Bank a key community initiative focused on food redistribution and reducing food waste.
Ahead of arriving in the Quarry, the judges learned about Shrewsbury Town Council’s innovative Turf Tank line-marking machine—typically used to paint football and sports pitches using GPS-guided technology. For the occasion, the Turf Tank had been used to prepare a special message for the judges in the Quarry itself, adding a modern touch to the tour.
One of the highlights of the day was arriving at The Quarry, where the judges explored the iconic Dingle Garden. The Amenity Space Team were on hand to explain the seasonal planting displays and the ongoing care required to maintain the garden’s pristine appearance. The group was shown the World War I commemorative flower bed, which features a striking design with plants shaped to resemble the St George’s flag.
Apprentice Jack proudly introduced the judges to the bug hotel he created in 2023, nestled within the Dingle, which serves as both a haven for insects and an educational resource for visitors.
The judges also paid a visit to St Chad’s Church to see Ebenezer Scrooge’s grave, made famous in the 1984 film A Christmas Carol. The gravestone was recently restored following vandalism damage in November 2024, preserving an iconic piece of Shrewsbury’s cultural heritage.
The tour continued with a walking exploration of the town centre, which included a stop at Golden Cross Passage, followed by a rousing welcome in The Square by Town Crier Martin Wood. Here, the judges met with three of the winners of the “Design a Planter” competition, a local schools initiative that invited students to create their own planter designs. The Town Council’s horticultural team brought the winning entries to life, and the young designers proudly showed the judges their planters—complete with the original drawings displayed beside them.
Also in The Square, the judges met with Maggie Love from Shrewsbury Street Pastures, who shared insights into the community-led planting projects transforming underused spaces into green havens. They also spoke with members of the Shrewsbury Street Pastors, who work throughout the town to help safeguard vulnerable individuals, particularly on weekend evenings.
The judges then visited St Mary’s Church to learn about the ongoing stained glass window restoration project, before concluding their visit at Shrewsbury Castle. There, they met with members of the local policing team and Town Rangers, and admired the VE Day Anniversary Carpet Bed, which provided a fitting floral finale to the day.
After the tour concluded, the judges were taken to Shrewsbury Men's Shed which won the Men's Shed of the Year Award for 2024. They have worked on a number of projects including the restoration of Percy Thrower's old greenhouse and revamping benches in The Square. All of the team enjoyed lunch before taking the judges back to the station for their next stop on the tour of the Britain in Bloom Small City/City UK Finalists.
Shrewsbury is the fourth of eight destinations to be visited by the national judges this summer. The winner of the Britain in Bloom UK Finals will be announced at a special presentation ceremony in Brighton this October.