The delayed digital Cumbria in Bloom Awards Ceremony eventually took place on 5th November 2020. Rae Beckwith, RHS Judge sent a message in his absence, and Martin Ogle, Lowther Castle General Manager – Operations & Gardens spoke about the website project and photographic judging in 2020. The Lord Lieutenant for Cumbria, Mrs Claire Hensman announced and presented the Exceptional Effort Awards listed below. Keith McIntosh, Competitions Sub-Committee Chairman spoke about the hopes for 2021 – more normal judging with contingencies if restrictions still in place, a new Cumbria in Bloom allotments competition and extra emphasis being put on woodland/copse and biodiversity special awards. Mrs Olive Clarke, Patron summed up the Event in her usual splendid and enthusiastic manner. Colin Cheyne, Chairman, Ronnie Auld, MC Member in charge of the website and Liz Auld, Administrator held the Event together. The Award winners were congratulated, the website project and photographic entrants were to receive a participation certificate, and everyone involved, the sponsors and story contributors were thanked for their continued support.
| CATEGORY | RECIPIENT |
| OUTSTANDING | Penrith Community Gardeners |
| VARIETY OF PROJECTS | Dalston in Bloom |
| INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE | Danny Poland, Irthington |
| VILLAGE GARDENS | Kirkoswald |
| WILDLIFE PROJECTS | Workington |
| RESILIENCE | Brampton Lovers’ Lane Community Garden |
| SCHOOLS GARDENING | Heron Hill Primary – Bees |
| SCHOOLS GARDENING | Dane Ghyll Community Primary – Raised Beds |
| PHOTOGRAPHS | Ronnie Auld – Dalston Black Red Lupins & White-Tailed Bee |
At the end of the ceremony, Mrs Olive Clarke OBE delighted the Zoom audience with her characteristic cheerful and complimentary vote of thanks to the organisers, recorded recently at her Cumbrian home.
This was our first experience of recording a Zoom event and, as you will see, the video has quite a few wrinkles. However, it is nevertheless a wonderful record of the fantastic efforts made by Cumbrian communities and individuals in 2020. After clicking on the video below, wait about 10 seconds for the first image to appear.
Grateful thanks are due to Colin Cheyne (Chairman), Liz Auld (Administrator), Mrs Claire Hensman, Mrs Olive Clarke, Rae Beckwith (RHS Judge), Martin Ogle (Lowther Castle General Manager), Keith Mackintosh (Chair of Competitions Sub-Committee), Ronnie Auld (website).
The Exceptional Effort Certificates are displayed below:
Cumbria in Bloom Plans for 2021
Keith Mackintosh outlined our plans for the 2021 Cumbria in Bloom competitions. An entry into the Cumbria in Bloom Pride in Your Community Competition 2021 could really build on the enthusiasm and momentum developed this year. A CiB Allotments Competition is being introduced in conjunction with the RHS “It’s Your Neighbourhood” Awards. Schools will be invited to enter the Schools Gardening Competition and there are six separate categories for businesses to enter in the CiB Tourism Awards. In addition, in 2021, two further special awards will be open to any entries – a} Small Woodland/Copse and b} Biodiversity and emphasis will be placed on these contributions in every category.
