TAVISTOCK BID members will be keeping their fingers firmly crossed next month when the result of the inaugural South West in Bloom Pennant awards are announced.

The Pennant is a new category which has just been introduced for BID towns. There are more than 20 in the South West, and the winner will be announced at a prestigious 'Oscar-style' ceremony in Truro Cathedral on September 19.

The town has just been assessed by the vice-chairman of Britain in Bloom, and judge of the South West in Bloom awards, Jon Wheatley.

Jon said: 'This is my first visit to Tavistock for about five years. It's great to see how everyone is working together to maintain and improve the environment in this lovely town.

'There seems to be a really lovely community spirit here — everybody is smiling, even in the rain!

'We are proud that Tavistock is in the Pennant awards for the first time — you have a wonderful identity here. I can usually assess a place in about an hour, and I very much want to come back here again.'

Jon said part of the award scheme was to monitor and assist entrants in the promotion of their town through its heritage, environment and landscape features.

He said the aim of the RHS was to make the Pennant awards the Michelin star of the Britain in Bloom awards — winning towns would be able to fly a physical pennant flag proclaiming they had achieved the prestigious accolade.

He said judges were also able to award discretionary awards to towns they felt were particularly deserving in various categories, from environmental to heritage and landscape.

'Don't ever forget the power of flowers in the community — although it's not just about hanging baskets these days, it's about environmental and heritage issues, it's a sense of place, and of civic pride and what is astonishing to me is the way that BID schemes are changing as a result of participating in the scheme.

'There's actually a very close marriage between Britain in Bloom and BID, they work together very well.'

Lisa Wadling, Tavistock BID manager, said it was part of BID's business plan to enter the South West in Bloom awards, so they were delighted to hear about the Pennant award.

'It's amazing that we have the vice-chairman of Britain in Bloom to come and assess us for our first time, it's brilliant!' said Lisa.

'The awards are an amazing opportunity to showcase Tavistock. We have a lot going for us in each of the categories that we would get assessed in.

'We are working together with the heritage groups; the town council works really hard in ensuring everything is clean, Tidy Tavi does a fantastic job, there are so many people working to make sure Tavistock is amazing, so hopefully from the Pennant awards, we can go on to the next level.'

Lisa said the ultimate aim was to enter and be successful in the national Britain in Bloom awards.

'There is no doubt that winning these awards does bring in extra visitors, they know in advance it will be a great place to come to.

'I can't wait, I think we have so much potential. We've done a good job already, and with what we have planned, with the funding from BID, bringing all the groups together, I think we could do something pretty special.'