TAVISTOCK has received high praise in the South West Britain in Bloom competition — for the third year running.

The competition, part of the national RHS Britain in Bloom event, saw many local organisations and community groups recognised for their hard work.

Tavistock BID entered the Britain in Bloom for BID competition for its floral displays and general tidiness of the town, for which it received gold, the highest award possible.

BID manager Lisa Piper said: ‘For the third year running we have received gold which is the highest one you can receive. This is great recognition for the town and I want to thank the town council for their hard work.

‘The judges liked the general view of the town — they had a tour of the town liked the floral display and how clean it was. We are thrilled to receive gold again this year and we hope to maintain the high standards for the following year to come.’

For the RHS ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ award, Tavistock Community Sensory Garden received Level 5 ‘outstanding’, Tavistock Museum, Heritage Vegetable Plot (by the former Old Folk’s Rest Room), Tidy Tavy and Cottage Garden received Level 4 ‘thriving’, and Canal Beds and Rose Walk received Level 3 ‘advancing’.

The IYN scheme is for volunteer-led community gardening groups which are focused on cleaning up and greening up their local area. It is held to provide groups with the chance to become involved in the wider RHS Britain in Bloom initiative.

Jacqui Orange, town council works administrator, congratulated the community groups and the volunteers for their hard work and for achieving such high commendations.

‘The groups deserve all the credit, we offered support but the credit should go to the volunteers and the community groups.

‘They have all done an amazing job and the stand out is the Sensory Garden.

‘We are looking to build on all the good work done this year and build on the work for next year.’

John Ladlow, project manager for the sensory garden, said: ‘I was happy to make a presentation of our aims and achievements to the RHS judges in July, but would point out that there have been many others helping and raising money for a long time for us to arrive at this stage.

‘We have still a long way to go as the garden has yet to be planted and developed, but feel confident that we will achieve a community garden that will be an asset to Tavistock.’

Ali Sedgwick, vice chair of the community sensory garden, added: ‘We are most grateful for the financial support we have received from the local councils — Tavistock Town Council, West Devon Borough Council and Devon County Council — the National Lottery and particularly the Tesco Bags of Help Scheme, which we secured, having won the public vote in the local store.

‘Members of the public have been both supportive and encouraging, buying memorial bricks for inclusion in a feature in the garden, sponsoring specific features and donating plants, making this truly a community garden.’