DIGNITARIES and gardeners celebrated after coming away from the Cumbria in Bloom awards with a bouquet of shiny trophies and medals.

The annual event, which was held at Chequers Hotel, Dalton, honoured ambitious areas which have transformed their neighbourhoods with a spruce up and a floral flourish.

Communities, schools and businesses from South Cumbria all triumphed yesterday (16/09) across more than 30 categories of competition.

Dalton was among the most successful towns in the county, scooping wins in the Best Town category, the Commercial award for Clarence House, and the Barrow-in-Furness Trophy for best borough-wide achievement. 

The success has fueled hopes that the town could triumph again in the Britain in Bloom awards - which will be announced next month.

Dalton mayor Wendy Maddox said the awards showcased the great work being done by green-fingered residents who have been busy creating colourful hanging baskets and running community allotments.

She said: "I've really happy with what we have done. I'm very pleased. It's been a huge success.

"The awards have brought quite a bit of prestige to Dalton and people came down from the various areas like Keswick and Workington."

Organisers of the awards estimate that more than 3,000 hours have be given by volunteers of the various 'In Bloom' groups throughout the county over the last year.

Cartmel was another place to shine in yesterday's ceremony by winning the prestigious Best Village award along with a sustainability medal.

Dane Ghyll School in Skelwith Drive, Barrow, was a happy recipient of the Best School Garden Overall, rewarding staff, teachers and pupils for maintaining their peaceful sensory garden.

Rae Beckwith, a Britain in Bloom judge with the Royal Horticultural Society, attended and presented the Cumbria in Bloom awards.

He said he was impressed by the high standard of entries and, most importantly, the community spirit shown.

"It's been most enjoyable. Cumbria is an integral part of the national jigsaw and has been producing some wonderful results.

"I've worked with Cumbria for years and I regularly come to Holker Garden Festival so I'm heavily involved in that.

"These awards are wonderful because it rewards people who care about the community and where they live in. In a lot of cases it's people doing it against the odds to make their place a better place to live."

SELECTED WINNERS

  • Windermere Lakes Cruises Trophy for Best Small Village - Bolton, Appleby
  • Strikes, Houghton Hall Trophy for Best Village - Cartmel
  • National Park Trophy for Best Large Village - Dalston
  • Kimberly Clark Trophy for Best Village Overall - Bolton, Appleby
  • Jennings Trophy for Best Small Town - Keswick
  • GlaxoSmithKline Trophy for Best Town - Dalton
  • Coastal Resort - Silloth
  • Nuclear Management Partners Trophy for Best Large Town - Kendal
  • Sheila Hensman Trophy for Best School Garden Overall - Dane Ghyll Primary, Barrow
  • Lakeland Limited Trophy for Best Commercial Section - Clarence House, Dalton
  • C.T. Chairman's Trophy for Best Bed & Breakfast / Guesthouse - Old School Guest House, Newbiggin
  • Jackie Sanderson Trophy for Best Hotel - Lakeside Hotel, Newby Bridge
  • Sellafield License Co. for Best Tidy Village (large) - Cartmel and Kirkoswald (joint winners)
  • Village Best Sustainability Development - Cartmel, Cummersdale and Houghton (joint winners)
  • Barrow-in-Furness Trophy for Achievement in the Borough - Dalton with Newton
  • South Lakeland Trophy for Best in Borough - Cartmel
  • Best Overall Town and Urban Community - Keswick