BID in Bloom judging Route
We worked with sponsors, partners and B&NES Council to prepare a route that shows off the flowers, environmental responsibility and community involvement in the centre of Bath, and on 24 July the RHS judges were welcomed to Bath.
The judging day was the culmination of many weeks of work from hundreds of people making the city beautiful in time for the Bath BID in Bloom judging day. There have been several community days of litter-picking, bench-painting and flower-planting, as well as the consistent efforts of the BID Rangers and the B&NES Parks and cleansing teams to keep the city sparkly clean and full of flowers.
Our Two RHS judges Jon Wheatley and Graham Bell were warmly welcomed by Allison and Nick at the BID, and then set off on the tour with our operations manager Roland and BID director Ellie Leiper.
After visiting the ancient Plane Tree and the Crystal Palace flowers in Abbey Green, the group headed down Stall Street to Whittard of Chelsea – one of our major sponsors – where Devon provided a delicious floral reception with some freshly brewed English Rose tea.
On the way south through the city there was time to admire the splendid hanging baskets sponsored by SRA Architects on Southgate Street. Roland explained the underground water recycling system and Lisa Bates at the Southgate Centre guided the judges through the floral arches and hanging gardens, past the apple tree planters and Mr Doodle’s fantastic black and white phone box full of flowers.
The Bath in Bloom volunteers Steve and Barry welcomed the judges to the impressive Manvers Street Planters full of purple and yellow perennials, and then it was time to visit the 26 floral urns along Grande Parade that were planted by volunteers, organised by Claire from Buro Happold, and sponsored by local businesses.
A tour of the colourful floral Parade Gardens beds was led by Matt Soan of B&NES Parks, who manages the magnificent gardens as well as a total of 300 hanging baskets across Bath.
At Walcott Street Anna Carling introduced the unique painted planters organised by Rosalind Ward, the Wild Walcot Garden and the busy beehives at the end of Beehive Court. Andrew Davies welcomed the party to Milsom Place to see the meticulously planted courtyard, and a walk through Union Passage was a chance to see the BID planters with the St John’s foundation logo.
Paul Mortimer from Grist pointed out their sponsored hanging baskets on Stall Street and explained about the coordination and collaboration of over 250 business with the brilliant joint waste contract in Bath.
Ellie welcomed everyone to The Grapes with an explanation of the cute little parklet outside and a welcome coffee and discussion upstairs, where Steve Brook explained the productive partnership between the BID and Bath in Bloom, Wendy Maden outlined the regeneration and city greening projects of B&NES Council and Allison Herbert explained the unique position of Bath BID as the catalyst for a range of projects, collaborations and networks of Bath BID which keep the city Welcoming, Connected, Smart and Successful.
A quick shortcut through Chapel Court provided a chance to meet Caroline Bee from St John’s Foundation and learn about the 850 years of service to the city, then Alison Stubbs led an educational walk, summarising 2000 years of healing mineral water history of Bath in the time it took to walk along Bath Street.
Mandy and Ian from Hawksmoor provided a cheerful floral welcome at their sponsored baskets by the colonnades before the judges paid a quick visit to the benches outside Bath Abbey where 24 small paintings of animals are hidden, and the final hosts of the tour, Liz Rees and her brilliant children, showed the judges their Wylde Creatures of Bath booklet and all 24 animals that they have found in the corresponding 24 shops around Bath.
After a few group photos and many thanks, the judges said goodbye, with arms full of goodies picked up along the tour – fudge from San Francisco Fudge Factory, Hawksmoor mugs, Bath Safe Bus keyrings, St John’s pens and a tin of Whittard English Rose tea – and plenty of praise for the great work, impressive community and beautiful flowers in Bath.
