Usk in Bloom are celebrating after scooping a top medal in the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Britain in Bloom UK Finals.

The winners were announced in Llandudno last week at an awards ceremony attended by over 400 people from around the UK. 

Three groups were chosen to fly the flag for Wales in the national finals following success in the Wales in Bloom competition the previous year.

Usk was named joint winner of the Large Village category, alongside Market Bosworth in the East Midlands. The group was awarded a gold medal for the exceptionally high standard of their entry, described by the RHS judges as “wonderful”. Standout features included a local resident’s front garden known as ‘the white garden’, the castle and its grounds, and the wildflower mixes used to attract bees and other pollinators. 

With Wales in Bloom celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the RHS Britain in Bloom awards ceremony was hosted by renowned garden designer James Alexander-Sinclair, with Welsh naturalist and TV presenter Iolo Williams as special guest.

 RHS judges visited the 78 finalists over the summer to assess each group against three key criteria: community participation, environmental responsibility and horticultural achievement.

Depending on the standard reached, a gold, silver gilt, silver or bronze medal was awarded to a winner in each category and discretionary awards for achieving excellence in particular fields. 

Roger Burnett, Chair of the RHS Britain in Bloom judges, said: “It’s a huge honour to witness how Britain in Bloom brings people together and the lengths that groups go to make their communities clean, green and beautiful. We saw an incredible diversity of different planting schemes, including wildflower meadows for wildlife, community food growing and plants chosen to cope with our changing climate.   

“This year, the standard was as high as ever but what really stood out was the creativity and ingenuity that groups showed in tackling the specific challenges of their particular areas, whether that be lack of funding, local social issues or tricky site conditions.”

Britain in Bloom is now in its 53rd year and, for the first time, a new BBC Two series following the quintessentially British competition is set to air in spring 2018.

Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay has congratulated Usk in Bloom on scooping yet another gold award.

Praising Usk in Bloom chairman, Tony Kear and his passionate team of volunteers, Nick said: “This is a tremendous and very well deserved fourth success for the town in this prestigious competition, and follows on from an amazing 36th win in this year’s Wales in Bloom competition - a truly outstanding achievement.

“I wish all those involved every success in the Champion of Champions’ 2018 competition for which the town has been nominated and look forward to seeing Usk featured in a forthcoming BBC series Blooming Marvellous.