South West in Bloom Opens in a new window is one of seventeen regional/national competitions that make up Britain in Bloom Opens in a new window, the largest horticultural campaign in Europe. The aim of the communities who take part each year is to improve and regenerate our local environments, through the imaginative planting of trees, shrubs, flowers and landscaping, conservation and recycling projects and to remove the eyesores that blight our streets, such as litter, graffiti and vandalism. The judges are taken across Torbay to meet all involved from local community groups to the staff and contractors working on site.

2021 winners

South West in Bloom winners

  • Torquay in Bloom – Gold Award in the Champion of Champions
  • Paignton in Bloom – Gold Award in the Tesco Cup
  • Brixham in Bloom – Gold Award
  • Babbacombe and St Marychurch – Babbacombe Bay Bloomers – Gold Award

In addition, winners in Torbay included:

  • The City of Bath Trophy (Landscaping) for the Sunken Gardens in Torquay
  • The London & Manchester Trophy (Outstanding contribution to an environmental initiative) for the Pollinator Patches
  • Barry Cruse Trophy for the Best Web Site – Babbacombe Bay Bloomers
  • The Cary Arms was Best Runner Up in the Sean Cregan Trophy (Best Floral Pub)

Torbay was also put forward for 14 South West in Bloom Discretionary awards for the following projects:

  • Sunken Gardens, Torquay for the City of Bath Trophy (Landscaping)
  • Babbacombe Bay Bloomers for the Michael Gahey Trophy (Exceptional community effort)
  • Brixham Moorings Reach for the Bruford Cup (Best Horticultural Display – non Municipal)
  • Pollinator Patches for the London & Manchester Trophy (Outstanding contribution to an environmental initiative)
  • Paignton for the South West Tourism Salver (Best Portfolio)
  • Brixham, Indigo’s go Green for the Gordon Ford Trophy (Best IYN)
  • Oldway Gardens Volunteer Group for the Gordon Ford Trophy (Best IYN)
  • Friends of Stoodley Knowle, Torquay for the Gordon Ford Trophy (Best IYN)
  • Pollinator Patches for the West Country TV Cup ( Outstanding specific project)
  • Brixham, Berry Head for the Monk Trophy (Best use of Native Plants)
  • Cary Arms, Babbacombe for the Sean Cregan Trophy (Best Floral Pub)
  • Cary Arms, Babbacombe for the Amberol Trophy (Best Business Floral Display)
  • Skeleton Brixham – Art in the Landscape ( Best Interpretation of Art in the Landscape)
  • Paignton, Gateway to Westerland Valley – Art in the Landscape (Best Interpretation of Art in the Landscape)

It’s Your Neighbourhood Award Winners

Also organised annually by RHS is the It’s Your Neighbourhood Awards, which go up to Level 5.

Babbacombe
  • Babbacombe Downs - Level 5
  • Outstanding Babbacoombe - Cliff Railway - Level 4
  • Thriving Babbacoombe - Tessier Gardens Friends Group - Level 5
  • Outstanding Babbacoombe - The Rose Garden - Level 5
  • Outstanding Babbacoombe - Millennium Green - Level 5
  • Outstanding Babbacombe - St Marychurch Precinct - Level 5
  • Outstanding Babbacombe - Petit Plot Community Garden - Level 5: Outstanding
Brixham
  • Middle Street Community Garden - Level 5
    Outstanding Brixham - Middle Street Traders - Level 5
  • Outstanding Brixham - Moorings Reach - Level 5
  • Outstanding Brixham - St Mary's Park Friends - Level 4
  • Thriving Brixham - The Old Railway Garden - Level 3
  • Advancing Brixham - Friends of Furzeham Green - Level 5
  • Outstanding Brixham - The Edge Bolton Street - Level 4
  • Thriving Brixham - Indigo's Go Wild Adventure Playground - Level 5: Outstanding
Paignton
  • Friends of Clennon Lakes - Level 4
  • Thriving Paignton - Wild Fox Adventure Playground - Level 3
  • Advancing Paignton - Shekinah Grow - Level 4
  • Thriving Paignton - Goodrington Community Orchard - Level 3
  • Advancing Paignton - Westerland Valley - Level 3
  • Advancing Paignton - Oldway Gardens Volunteer Group - Level 5: Outstanding
Torquay
  • Friends of Stoodley Knowle - Level 5: Outstanding
  • Torquay - Torre Churchyard - Level 5: Outstanding
  • Torquay - Torre Abbey Gardens - Level 5: Outstanding
  • Torquay - Friends of Upton Park - Level 4
  • Thriving Torquay - Cricketfield Community Garden - Level 5: Outstanding
  • Torquay - Friends of Victoria Park (Chelston) - Level 4
  • Thriving Torquay - Our Space Level 3 Advancing Torquay - The Triangle - Level 4
  • Thriving Torquay - Fort Apache - Level 4
  • Thriving Torquay - Cockington Memorial Rose Garden - Level 5: Outstanding