Resort is jewel in floral crown (From Western Telegraph)

Resort is jewel in floral crown

TENBY has proved once again that it is the jewel in Pembrokeshires floral crown by claiming its 21st Wales in Bloom title.

The resort notched up its 11th success in a row in the small town section of the prestigious contest - despite a cut in the town councils gardens budget.

We are absolutely delighted to win the title, particularly as the budget from Pembrokeshire County Council was curtailed this year, said Tenby in Bloom chairman Clive Betts.

The towns head gardener, Kevin Taylor, has worked miracles, with the War Memorial Garden and Gilroy Phillips Garden looking magnificent. And the townspeople have come up trumps, with the Tenby in Bloom competition attracting a record number of entries.

Tenby in Blooms overall winner, the Normandie Hotel in Upper Frog Street, gained a merit award in the class for pub frontages, which was won by The Old Coach House at Fishguard.

The dazzling floral display on the exterior of The Old Coach House, impressed Wales in Bloom judge Jim Goodwin so much that he awarded it first place in the pub hanging basket and container class.

He described it as a delightful show on a particularly dreary afternoon and praised the use of the barrows and the contrasting use of Cordylines alongside the flowers.

I was very impressed with the effort and care on this superb building, he said, and in a message to publican Paul Johnson added: Very well done, keep on entering.

There was also significant success for Narberth, in only its second year of entering Wales in Bloom. The town won a merit in the small country town category, with its Queens Hall coming runner-up in the public buildings category.

Other local accolades went to Wolfscastle (runner-up in the small village category) and Priory Junior School, Monkton (runner-up in the infants and junior schools garden category).

In the caravan park class, Cenarth Falls Holiday Park, Cenarth, was runner-up, with Well Park Caravans at New Hedges, Tenby, being awarded a merit.

Once again, the excellent quality of entries from all over the Principality made the task of the Wales in Bloom judges a difficult one. Said competition chairman Clive Addison: The standard of Wales blooms just seems to go from strength to strength.

Celebrating Tenbys Wales in Bloom success outside the Normandie Hotel, bedecked with over 60 floral displays, are Tenby in Bloom chairman Clive Betts, Mrs Sheila Hawthorne, of the Normandie, and Tenbys Mayor, Councillor Christine Brown.

PICTURE: Gareth Davies Photography.