TAVISTOCK is celebrating after winning its first gold in the Britain in Bloom awards. Local groups have been working tirelessly to improve the high street and as a result have walked away with a gold in the ’BID team’ category and a Sargent Cup silver gilt, both prestigious awards from the Royal Horticultural Society.

Last year the town won two silver gilts. This is only the second year that the town has entered the main award so to achieve a gold has been a delight for the team.

Tavistock BID had been working with a number of organisations including Britain in Bloom, Roots to Transition Tavistock and Tavistock Town Council.

Lisa Piper, BID manager said: ’It’s brilliant for Tavistock, the council guys have been great at insuring the flowers are watered to make Tavistock look fab.

’Last year was only the second year we entered the main event and was the third for BID so to have made gold within three years is great.

’Due to winning this award we will also be entered into a national competition next year, in August, which will judge the best BID area in the country.

’I want to say a big thank you to all the organisations that helped in making Tavistock look fantastic.’

Tavistock also received eight In Your Neighbourhood (IYN) awards which ranged from improving to thriving and outstanding.

Winners included in the IYN were Tidy Tavy receiving a thriving award, St Eustachius Church, that also received a thriving, Whitchurch School and Mary Tavy and Bentor Primary School both received outstanding awards.

There will be an awards ceremony held in the Town Council Chamber in the next couple weeks.

Tavistock Town Mayor, Cllr Sue Bailey said: ’Having attended the presentation of the awards for South West Britain in Bloom last week, I am very proud that Tavistock Town has received a silver gilt this year and also especially so for the BID who have received a gold award and next year they will be entered into national finals, so that is extremely good news for the town on both sides.

’I also want to say a big thank you to Lisa for all of her hard work and for managing the BID team as well as the Roots to Transition Tavistock group, without them both winning this award wouldn’t have been possible.’

Devon County Councillor for Tavistock said: ’It’s blooming marvellous! It has been wonderful to work on something really joyful and positive amidst all the doom and gloom of late with all the funding cuts and it has been a pleasure to be involved.’