Dartmouth gained top awards for many of the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood entries. These important awards reward communities coming together to improve their surroundings and the South West has a total of more than 600, more than any other region in Britain in Bloom.
Dartmouth entered a total of 11 out of which seven were ‘Outstanding’: Royal Avenue Gardens, Higher Street/Smith Street, Foss Street, Old Market Square, Coombe Terrace, Milton Lane Allotments and Dartmouth Community Greenhouse and Potager. Four were ‘Thriving’: BRNC, Dartmouth Academy, St John’s the Baptist Church School and Dartmouth Community Orchard. A group of some of the IYN representatives attended an awards ceremony at the Dartmouth Academy and were presented with their certificates by the mayor (see photo above).
Higher Street/Smith Street has a lovely mix of shops, pubs and cafes decorated with floral displays. It is Pillory Square, the old heart of Dartmouth.
Foss Street traders put on an impressive display.
The Old Market Square had a variety of creative displays.
Millton Lane Allotments showed off wonderful displays of vegetables and flowers.
Dartmouth Community Greenhouse and Potager includes a cutting garden and raised beds of vegetables.
Coombe Terrace residents create wonderful front gardens.
Dartmouth Academy became an Its Your Neighbourhood for the RHS Awards for the first time. The newly built site has been landscaped and areas set aside for school gardens, including raised planting beds for vegetables and a Forest Garden.
St John’s RC Primary School once again entered the RHS Awards as an IYN. In 2015 Dartmouth Green Partnerships brought in helpers from the Naval College to refurbish raised planters at the school. An old boat has also been used for plants.
