Ramsey has taken the Isle of Man’s highest ever honours in the annual Britain in Bloom Awards: a silver gilt medal in the Small Town category.
The award was made to Ramsey Town Commissioners’ Chairman Sylvia Beattie at the RHS Britain in Bloom awards ceremony in Torbay on Wednesday 23rd September, which was hosted by BBC Gardeners' World presenter, Toby Buckland.
The evening turned out to be a double celebration for Ramsey when the Commission’s head gardener Ken Barnes received an RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Britain in Bloom Community Champion award, one of only eight such awards to be presented in this year’s competition.
The RHS defines the Britain in Bloom silver gilt category as ‘a high standard entry that meets the judging criteria and objectives of Britain in Bloom, including sections of exceptionally high standard.
'Generally meets sustainable and quality thresholds, but these may not be entirely consistent throughout the area. Offers potential to be a gold medal winner in the future.’
The judges were particularly impressed with the town’s well maintained residential areas, singling out John Green of Claughbane Drive’s front garden, a display that elicited a unanimous ‘wow’.
The judges also praised the town’s businesses for sponsoring hanging baskets and providing their own floral containers.
The horticultural content of Mooragh Park also came in for praise as did Ramsey’s commitment to environmental responsibility, the judges commenting on ‘an extremely clean entry’ with very little litter and no dog fouling/graffiti or fly posting.
They also considered the standard of street furniture to be ‘exemplary’ and the conservation information in the Commission’s portfolio and supporting 15-minute presentation ‘outstanding’.
Mrs Beattie said, "I am absolutely thrilled that Ramsey has represented the Isle of Man so magnificently in this year’s Britain in Bloom competition.
"Winning a silver gilt medal is a first for Ramsey and a first for the Island.
"It’s also testimony to the unfailing strength of community spirit that exists in our town and to the tremendous hard work Ken Barnes and all the Commissioners’ workforce put in year round to make Ramsey a town of which we can all be proud.
"For Ramsey to have won a silver gilt medal is a triumph in itself, but for Ken Barnes to be recognised for his outstanding efforts is the ultimate coup for Ramsey and the Commissioners.
"The RHS defines the Britain in Bloom Community Champion Award as one that is 'presented to an individual or individuals who have dedicated so much of their time to the Britain in Bloom cause' and Ken is the epitome of that award.
"I am sure that winning this silver gilt award will serve as a symbol of just how much a community can achieve and that it will help encourage not only pride in Ramsey, but also in every town and village in the Island."
Pictured: Ramsey Town Commissioners’ chairman Sylvia Beattie and head gardener Ken Barnes holding their certificates with RHS Britain in Bloom judge Andrew Jackson (left) and Roger Burnett, Chairman of the RHS Britain in Bloom national judging panel.
Photograph courtesy of Pyramid Torbay Photography.
