Great Whittington is awarded SILVER GILT in the finals of the RHS Britain in Bloom Competition 2011.

On Sunday 25th September in St Andrews, Scotland, the prizes were awarded for the Britain in Bloom Finals. It was the first time that we had made it through to the finals so it was a wonderful surprise to find that we had been awarded Sliver Gilt. The standard for the Britain in Bloom final is a big step up from the local competition so to do so well on our first entry was amazing and we were so chuffed we couldn't stop grinning for hours. The prizes were presented by Rachel De Thame in the Fairmont Hotel, St Andrews and finalists were treated to a wonderful meal of haggis and salmon in addition to seeing the most prestigious gardening awards of the year presented. The judge's comments have been posted up on the webpage so please check them out, they're very positive and very welcome after all our hard work. A big thank you goes to all who were involved in our entry this year, thanks from the strategy group and from the Northumbria in Bloom team, who we were representing. We will soon be back at work in the village, replacing the summer bedding, working on the wildflower area and planting more daffodils for spring. Please join us if you can, we need help with the work and donations if we're going to keep up our standard next year.  

Great Whittington wins GOLD in Northumbria in Bloom. On Tues 13th Sep in Saltburn in Cleveland the prizes were awarded for Northumbria in Bloom 2011. Happily, Great Whittington won gold once again with an improved score. We still failed to bring home the trophy but the winner of our section, Stanghow, also won the overall competition so at least we were beaten by the best. Thanks again to everyone who helped and I hope we will continue to get your support. Please check out the Judges Comments section to see where we can improve for next year and where we did very well. The prizes for Britain in Bloom will be awarded on Sunday 25th Sep so fingers crossed that we do well in that competition as well. A flyer will soon be posted through the doors giving more details of our ongoing campaign and the next event will probably be held in the wildflower area. We now have the grant money so we can begin clearing nettles in and deciding which plants to buy. Thanks again for your support.  

Unfortunately we can't say that the sun shone on us for the RHS Britain in Bloom judging on the 2nd August but at least the heavens didn't open until we were safely indoors getting stuck into sandwiches and sausage rolls. We awoke to a very dull and dismal morning on the day of judging but nothing could dampen our spirits, not after all the work we'd put in. The village looked brilliant despite the weather and we welcomed the judges to coffee and delicious snacks, provided by one of our volunteers, before they began the tour. As we made our way around the village the rain just managed to hold off long enough for photos and notes to be taken. We walked along the main street, stopping off at the wildflower area, the coronation tree and the tubs and borders around the green. We then went up to the village hall garden to see the children's vegetable beds and visited one residential garden before risking the muddy field to see the allotment. The Hexham Courant photographer came to record the event and the Mayor of Hexham, Rad Hare, and Councellor Edward Heslop also joined us to give support. We then had a lovely lunch, provided by two of our GW in Bloom volunteers. We won't know how we've done in Britain in Bloom, or in Northumbria in Bloom, until September but the village is looking so nice that whatever happens we'll be happy that we're lucky enough to live in such a wonderful spot with a wonderful community. Thanks to all who have helped this year, the work will go on through Autumn and Winter so we hope that you'll continue to join in and help.

The  summer judging took place in bright sunshine, we always seem to get good weather for the judging, but perhaps I shouldn't say that as there's one more to go in August! The judges were impressed by the tidy village green with the perfect edges (thanks very much to the volunteers who worked so hard on this). They loved the colourful pots that residents had placed to brighten up dark areas. The residential vegetable gardens, the children's raised beds and the communal vegetable plot all helped to bring our heritage theme to life and our award winning wildlife area was a big success. Some gardens looked absolutely spectacular and thanks very much to everyone who allowed us access to them. Please let us know if you would like a copy of the children's 'I-spy in the wildlife area' fact sheet for over the summer holidays and feel free to give us a hand on the final few weekends before the RHS judging in August.

Northumbria in Bloom Summer Judging takes place on Thursday 14th July at 2pm. By this time we are hoping to have our heritage theme in full bloom, the wildflower meadow planted and the children's vegetable garden at the village hall sorted. There will also be the general tidying and dead heading to do so there's plenty of ways that you can join in. Please watch the noticeboard at the village hall for further information, check out these webpages regularly and email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you'd like further details. We'll be out working in the village most weekends if the weather is good so please feel free to join in.

The jobs we are doing before the summer judging will be:

Planting out the summer bedding in heritage colours

Tidying the flowerbeds on the village green and edging the grass

Clearing the weeds that have started to spring up along the edges of the kerbs

Tidying the hedge row at the village hall end of the village

Helping the children to plant out vegetables in the village hall garden and in tubs and the wheelbarrow - we will leave this until after the BBQ on 2nd July though as the young plants could be damaged during the event

2nd July - BBQ: we will have a table at the event for fundraising and spreading the word about our activities. There will be games with a prize for all children who enter, a lucky draw for adults and we will take along the portfolios for Britain in Bloom and Northumbria in Bloom and the judges comments from last year will also be available. The BTO are also sponsoring a free quiz so you could win a garden bird identification book. Hope to see lots of you there.

Northumbria in Bloom spring judging takes place on Friday 8th April at 2pm. This is our target for finishing off all of the spring gardening so please help us if you can spare the time. We will be putting flyers through the doors with further information and chalking up events on the village hall noticeboard. There's plenty to do so we need all the help we can get. You'll find us out in the village working every Sunday afternoon from now on so why not join us - its fun, it keeps us fit and makes the village look beautiful.

Great Whittington makes it to the final of Britain in Bloom. What a tremendous achievement! Please join in with our efforts to make our village the best small village in the country. Watch these pages for more information and check out the village hall notice board for upcoming gardening events.  

Great Whittington gets a GOLD AWARD in this year's Northumbria in Bloom competition. We were also runner up best small village. Next year we intend to bring home the trophy so there will be plenty of gardening events for you to join in with over the coming months. Please watch this space for details, events will also be chalked up on the village hall noticeboard and we will put flyers through the doors. Thank you so much for joining in with the community effort, we couldn't have done it without you!

Summer Judging Update:

The sun shone on the judges as they walked around our village today, I can hardly believe how fortunate we've been with the weather this year. Even the flowers that were drooping with the weight of the rain that fell on them yesterday seemed to have perked up in the sunshine. The judging went very well indeed and we spend a pleasant couple of hours in the company of the judges, who know an awful lot more about gardening than we do. We got some brilliant suggestions for things to do and plants to try and we'll certainly be trying some of them out for next year. But in the meantime we have to wait until 13th September to see how well we've done this year. We're certainly one of the top villages and in the running for gold and even for best village. So a big thank you to everyone who helped us reach this standard. The village green looked perfect (thanks Phil and Ross), the planting was excellent - we have some beautiful gardens around the village - and the village hall wildlife garden is coming along nicely. We just need to raise the money for the bird hide to replace the shed that collapsed and get some small wildflowers and bulbs growing in the wildflower meadow (or lawn if you're wondering where it is). If you'd like to help we're looking for funds and for practical help so please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   to find out what you could do to make a difference.

Wednesday 21st July - Northumbria in Bloom Summer Judging:

At last the time has almost come for the final judging in the Northumbria in Bloom competition. Things are looking good as the tubs have picked up after the devastating frost that hit them the day after they were planted out. The borders are beginning to look colourful again now that the spring bulbs have died and the village hall wildlife garden is looking splendid as well as attracting wildlife and our village youngsters. So, we need to make one last big push to get everything perfect for the big day. Please join in and help if you have any free time, especially on the last 2 weekends prior to judging when we'll be tackling the village green area. If we want to go gold then we need to make everything perfect, not a weed or dead flower in sight on the day. If you'd like any further information then please email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Spring Judging Update:

It was another lovely sunny day for the spring judging and our village shone with brilliant colour. From the green of the grass to the yellow of the daffodils, it was perfect. The judges commented on the understated planting that fits so well with the beautiful context of the countryside surrounding the village. The newly dug borders along the edges of the grass verges were in character with the stone walls and buildings and complemented them perfectly. The village green looked splendid after the massive tidy up effort of the weekend and the council road sweeper had tidied the edges of the roads where we'd removed the winter debris and weeds. Thanks go to everyone who helped with that extra bit of effort over the weekend and the villagers who were around today and came out to greet the judges. Well done to everyone, lets keep up the good work and make sure we get top marks in the summer judging.

The next event will be the ongoing work on the village hall garden. We are currently raising money to buy a bench and we've been donated materials for the new compost bins that will be constructed before the summer judging. We also intend to begin planting a wildflower meadow around the bug hotel and under the trees so we'll be raising money for plants and bulbs. If you'd like to get involved by either helping with the work (which is fun and good exercise) or by donating plants, materials or funds, then please get in touch with This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The summer judging will take place on Tuesday 20th July at 2.30pm so that's our target date for the completion of the second stage of the wildlife area. We will work whenever time and weather permit so if you see people at work in the garden please feel free to join in.

Wednesday 14th April - Northumbria in Bloom Spring Judging!

The judges will be coming around the village on the afternoon of Wednesday 14th April. Please make sure your gardens and verges are perfect for the big day. If we're going for gold, we can't afford to have a leaf out of place. The weekend before the judging we're hoping that our volunteers will be out in force - please come out and join us - its fun and it keeps you fit! Fingers crossed for Wednesday, please come out to say hello to the judges if you see them come past.

March 2010, the development of the Great Whittington wildlife area begins!

One Sunday morning in March saw the beginnings of the Great Whittington wildlife area. A bug hotel, log lodge, butterfly barn and a small wildlife pond were created in the garden of the village hall. We have loads more conservation ideas which we hope to put into effect later this year. If you'd like to become involved, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or just come up and give us a hand the next time you see us working in the garden.

Monday 14th September - Great Whittington goes Silver Gilt at last!!!!!

After a lot of very hard work we finally made it to the Silver Gilt category in the Northumbria in Bloom awards. Our overall score increased by a massive 15 points leaving us firmly in the silver gilt category - in fact, we're now only 9 points short of a Gold award! So a big thank you goes to everyone who helped whether it was planting, weeding, grass cutting, whatever, it all contributed to our success. The quest will go on of course, next year we hope to do even better. One day perhaps we will win best village, we can but try. If you would like to get involved, please contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for further information. Also, watch these pages for details of our wildlife day and the new wildlife garden to be developed at the village hall. And congratulations, we live in one of the best kept villages in the North East, and that's official!

Monday 20th July, Northumbria in Bloom Summer Judging!

The day of judging came at last, unfortunately immediately after a spell of very wet and windy weather that didn't help with the preparation. We were very pleased to see so many people out helping with the finishing touches on Sunday and our volunteers managed to cut the grass despite the rain. By Monday morning it was looking terrific and the judging seemed to go very well indeed. All that's left to do now is to wait until September for the result - fingers cross for the silver gilt. See the gardening calendar for further details. 

Great Whittington gets Silver Award but only 3 points off Silver Gilt!!!!!!!

The prize winners in this year's Northumbria in Bloom competition were announced at a meeting in Gateshead on Monday 8th September. A small delegation from the village went along to the presentation to cheer our village on. Despite the rubbish summer we've had, we managed to keep up the standard of the last 2 years and once more were awarded silver, but...... we were only 2% short of our target of silver gilt!!! It just shows that every individual effort counts - if only we'd planted up one more tub or one more border along the village green..... Anyway, the award was accepted on behalf of the village by Tom,  Lizzie and Val, see the photo on the gallery, and the certificate will be going on display at the village hall. 

So, instead of thinking of what might have been if we'd made that little extra push this year, we have to look to the future and make sure that we get there next year. Our overall score has improved by a massive 21 points reflecting the tremendous efforts made by the small group of workers in the gardening club and all other villagers who have made sure that their gardens were in tip top condition not only on judging days but throughout the year. Also contributing to the improvement were the young people of the village, the judges were most impressed by their efforts with the sunflowers and, of course, the prizes for these will be awarded shortly.

The full breakdown of marks and judges feedback is now on the judge's feedback section so lets all learn from this and keep it in mind for next year. As you can see, there are several areas where the judges remarks are positive but also a few areas where we can, with a bit more effort, improve for next year. We can definitely work towards raising our marks on the spring judging and it was the floral displays that left most room for improvement in the summer judging. Conservation is also an important factor and the judges would like to see some wildlife areas incorporated in our planting scheme.  

So, a big thank you to everyone who has been involved with the effort this year and we hope that you will help us to keep up the standard over the coming months. The rains have made everything look rather sad unfortunately, except for the weeds of course, so the gardening club will be arranging to get out there soon to tidy it all up for winter. If you would like to become involved, please contact us on: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   for further details.

There will be more events for the gardening club and for the youngsters of the village soon, details will be posted on this link and flyers will be put through doors. If anyone has a sunflower that hasn't been measured yet, please let us know before the winners are announced. Also get in touch if you have any questions, ideas, feedback etc using This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   and we look forward to seeing you at our up coming events.

New gardening club for the village:

Are you a keen gardener? Would you like to meet other gardeners in the village in order to swap ideas and chat about gardening in general? Then why not join the Great Whittington Gardening Club. We're looking for members of all ages, adults and children, to come along to our regular meetings. Gardening can be a fun activity, fun for all of the family.

The benefits of joining the club are wide ranging. Apart from getting exercise in the fresh air and improving your health and our environment, you'll be able to share equipment, swap plants and seeds and get advice and help with your own gardening projects. Who knows, you may even be motivated to get started on that project that you've been putting off for years. Even if you just want to come along for the social aspect, a chat and a cup of coffee, we'll be very pleased to see you.

For more information about the club and on how to join, just email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it