Anglia in Bloom Green Flag Award Spring Clean

Our Awards

Our passion for promoting Halesworth has been recognised many times through the awards we have earned. Entering competitions such as Anglia in Bloom requires a huge effort from our volunteers and significant support from local businesses and residents. Since we lost our hugely inspirational and energetic leader in 2017 we have chosen to take a break from competing and instead have focused our limited resources on maintaining our planting initiatives around the town and keeping Halesworth looking lovely.

Halesworth in Bloom Awards 2013-2017

2017
  • Anglia in Bloom Small Town Gold Award, Silver Award for Town Park, Silver Award for Closed Cemetery, and Special Award nominations in Biodiversity category (Bernard Mills’ garden) and for Best Community Project (Halesworth Town Centre)
  • Green Flag Community Award for Halesworth Town Park
  • Suffolk Community Foundation Award of £5,000 towards improvements to the Town Park
2016
  • Anglia in Bloom Small Town Gold Award, Silver Gilt Award for Town Park, Silver Award for Closed Cemetery, and Special Award nominations for Best Community Business Centre (Thoroughfare) and for Biodiversity (Halesworth Millennium Green)
  • Royal Horticultural Society ‘Greening Grey Britain’ National Award of £500 towards improvements at the Station
  • Green Flag Community Award for Halesworth Town Park
2015
  • Anglia in Bloom Best Small Town and Small Town Gold Award, Silver Award for the Closed Cemetery, Special Award nomination for Best Industrial/Commercial Area (Spectra Packaging) and Best Community Project (Town Centre)
2014
  • Anglia in Bloom Small Town Gold Award and Special Awards for Best Garden for Special Needs (Beech House Alzheimer’s Garden) and Best Drought/Sustainable Planting (Halesworth Roundabouts)
2013
  • Anglia in Bloom Best New Entry, Small Town Silver Gilt Award, Special Award for Best Young People’s project, aged 12 years and under (Edgar Sewter Primary School Garden), and Special Award nominations for Best Public Open Space (rare tree plantings Halesworth Fishing Lakes) and for Best Industrial/Commercial Area (Thoroughfare)

Halesworth in Bloom has also established its own awards structure, to recognise the achievements of local businesses and residents and to encourage others to get involved. Awards can be made in the following categories, and the winner receives a beautiful glass trophy donated by Lesley Pyke. Not all categories are celebrated each year – this is dependant on the resources available to organise and judge.

  • Best Business Floral Frontage
  • Best Front Garden (for residents)
  • Best Allotment
  • Best Children’s Horticultural Project
  • Outstanding Personal Contribution

No awards were made in 2023 – details of the 2022 awards ceremony can be found below:



Halesworth in Bloom Awards for horticultural excellence 2022

The 2022 Halesworth in Bloom Awards for horticultural excellence and the Tamsyn Imison Award for Community Service were presented in a joint ceremony in the welcoming atmosphere of the Angel Stables, Halesworth, at lunch time on 24 November 2022. The Green House Suffolk decorated the venue with some beautiful plants from their Halesworth shop.

Michael Imison presented the awards. After the enforced break of the past three years, business floral frontages and allotments were judged in July this year.

The Lesley Pyke trophy for Best Business Floral Frontage went to Norton Peskett Solicitors. The judges commented: "Their colourful planting still looks good but importantly has performed throughout most of the year."

Highly Commended certificates were presented to Densons Jewellers, Hunky Dory and ASD, whose planters were described as "lovely frothy summer displays".

The Lesley Pyke trophy for Best Newcomer Business Floral Frontage was awarded to Harrison & Co. (Vicky Harrison). "Two very stylish planters outside this brand new business."

A Special Certificate of Excellence for the Market Place was presented to SeligSuffolk Skincare (Carol Griffin). "Very creative use of a tiny space, unusual plants, plus colourful window boxes at the first-floor window overhanging the fish shop window."

The Lesley Pyke trophy for Best Allotment went to Lin and Harry Batey (Saxons Way site). "A lot of hard work and dedication has gone into this plot . . . The plants on it are well cared for and there is a nice mix of veggies and flowers."

Highly Commended certificates were awarded to two plots from each of the Council allotment sites:

  • Saxons Way: Eric & Stella Dobson for "a well-tended plot that makes good use of space"; and David & Anita Graves for a "well-kept plot with healthy and well looked after plants."
  • Swan Lane: Ian & Tina McAllister, whose plot "has been transformed. . . the chicken run is tidy and well maintained . . . the plants are healthy and well looked after"; Peter Noble for a "well-kept plot with the whole plot in use and looked after regularly."
  • Bedingfield: Alan Goodchild, whose plots are "tidy and well maintained. Good mix of plants and veggies. Beautiful Dahlias!"; Martin Forder: "Great upcycled shed . . . The whole plot is in use and well looked-after."

Michael Imison with representatives of the business floral frontage winners: Densons Jewellers, Harrison & Co. (winner of the Lesley Pyke trophy for best newcomer business), ASD, Norton Peskett Solicitors (winner of the Lesley Pyke trophy for best business) and SeligSuffolk

Michael Imison with allotment winners Peter Noble, Ian & Tina McAllister, Lin Batey (winner of the Lesley Pyke trophy for best allotment), David & Anita Graves, and Eric & Stella Dobson)