Collingham in Bloom earns Silver Gilt in debut East Midlands in Bloom competition

A village has secured a Silver Gilt in its first-ever bloom competition — and boasts a gold-standard front garden.

Collingham was visited by East Midlands in Bloom judges on July 4, when the competition officials were given a tour of the area by the Collingham in Bloom group and members of the community.

Their labour has certainly borne fruit, with the village earning an overall Silver Gilt for it’s debut entry, and numerous other volunteers and venues scooping individual category gold and silver awards.

Vice-chairman of Collingham in Bloom, Iain Orme, said: “It’s either extremely rare, or we have heard its the first time, to get a silver on the first attempt.

“It’s truly amazing, and it’s only down to volunteers that is been possible.

“It’s all about getting the community together — people have got together and got to know each other probably more than ever before. It’s kind of the Bloom ethos.”

The East Midlands in Bloom competition focuses on the ‘three RHS core pillars of excellence’; horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility, and community participation, and seeks entries which promote these things.

It was a veritable army of villagers who pulled together to help deliver Collingham’s ‘blooming brilliant’ display; including 40 ‘Guerilla Bloomers’; Collingham Cricket Club, The Shed @ Collingham; Beaufields House and Beaufield Residents Action Gardening Group (BRAGG); Gusto, which donated £2,000 through its community fund; The Allotment Café; The Royal Oak Community Pub as entry for best pub; the Scouts and WI who grew hundreds of sunflowers; businesses who donated planters; Greet, Eat, and Meet (GEM) social group which planted hanging baskets; four bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteers; Collingham Fire Station; and other residents who dedicated themselves to litter picking and sprucing up areas of the village.

Among the stand-out results was the entry for ‘Best Front Garden’, residents Jan and Paul Nicholson of Fruit Farm, who were presented with a gold award for their garden — which features vegetable plots, lawns, landscaping, flower beds, seating areas and more.

Jan said: “I’m very proud. I’ve always gardened, and the gardens have improved and involved as time has gone on.

“There’s all different aspects, an allotment area, lots of seating. The judges were lovely, it felt like they were on your side and they made it really relaxed.

“I had no idea it would win a gold award, especially as it’s been a challenging year because of the weather.”

The award ranks it among the best bloom entry gardens in the region.

Also recognised was The Royal Oak Community Pub, which held the reception at the end of the judge’s tour of the village, and was presented with a silver award; and John Wilson who received a special award for his work at All Saints Church.

John took it upon himself to ‘adopt’ the triangle area green space at the church for the competition, and turn it into an area the village could enjoy and be proud of.

“When Collingham in Bloom was announced, I thought it would be a good place to adopt and make look smarter. I always walked down there anyway,” he said.

“A lot of people like it now, because it’s a bit of a contemplation area, with a bench to sit at.”

John planted the area up, and even made the bench himself from a fallen willow tree — and now plans to continue to develop the area with bulbs ready for next spring.

Julie Parker also completed planting at the Cross green space, and litter-picker of 12-years Rodney Bayes, who both celebrated the way Collingham in Bloom had brought the community together an inspired people to do more to improve their area.

Phil Salathiel, of BRAGG, which earned a Level 2 ‘In Your Neighbourhood’ certificate for the community garden, added: “It’s almost self-perpetuating, people are seeing the fruits of their labour. The community garden has something for everything.

“It is community with a capital ‘C’.”

While volunteer-driven, Collingham in Bloom has been backed by Collingham Parish Council, as the organiser, and Gusto Group as main sponsor.

Gusto’s development in the village earned an award for ‘Best New Permanent Landscape’, and the company’s community fund contributed £2,000 to the bloom cause and supported the hanging basket operation.

Jerome Wright, of Gusto, said: “The enthusiasm for all these things was amazing, you want to help out. They’ve got the energy and so it’s great to give a bit of financial backing.

“The amount of effort everyone put in, you’d hope they get rewarded — and they certainly have. Hopefully this will be the start of an annual effort to pretty the place up.”

Collingham Parish Council clerk, Mary-Ann Horley, added: “It’s been a real community effort, well beyond what we ever expected.

“It’s just grown so much — and it’s not the parish council cracking the whip, people have really taken it and run with it.”

Now, looking forward, the village has already begun preparations for 2026’s East Midlands in Bloom Competition — with plans for bulb planting, and continued efforts to keep litter and dog fouling down.

Iain Orme will step to the helm as chairman — having been guided in this debut year by former Newark in Bloom chairman Jenni Oliver — and has high hopes to see the Silver Gilt maintained, or even improved upon to achieve the coveted gold.

“Jenni has helped enormously, she guided us through the process” he added.

“We’ve already committed to to 2026, and if we can manage to maintain this standard that will be amazing — or hopefully go for gold.

“We’re also looking to grow the number of D of E volunteers.”