FAREHAM was awarded gold in every category it entered in the South and South East in Bloom contest and was winner of the Small City category.

In the parks and gardens sections gold went to:

• Holly Hill Woodland Park

• Sensory Garden of Reflection

• Westbury Manor Garden

• Warsash Common

• Civic Gardens

There were four Britain in Bloom 'It's Your Neighbourhood Awards' presented which all received the award level 'Outstanding':

• Fareham Conservation Volunteers

• The residents of Burnham Wood

• Fareham and Crofton Cricket Club

• Sarisbury Cricket Club

The private, Portchester Memorial Gardens also took a Gold award and won the commercial landscape category.

In the summer Northern Junior Community School received a Gold award were overall Hampshire Winners in the Schools category.

On top of this the Fareham Conservation Volunteers received a 'Britain in Bloom Commendation' and the borough received the Hampshire County award as the highest marked entry.

Executive member for Leisure and Community Councillor Tiffany Harper said: "It is an amazing achievement to have done so well at the South and South East in Bloom awards. This success is the result of a consistent commitment to the provision of parks and environmental services and it's all thanks to the hard work of our passionate volunteers and Council Officers. I know that residents and visitors to the Borough are always very impressed with the quality of parks and gardens around Fareham."

Fareham in Bloom celebrated its 20th anniversary this year and there were more than 200 entries across 21 categories – an increase of 15 per cent on last year.

At the Ferneham Hall local award winners received their prizes from borough mayor Michael Ford last week The winners were:

Small floral front garden - Jan Purnell 

Large floral front garden - Pamela Hobbs

Courtyard or forecourt style garden - Mrs Jane Kemm

Plantsman’s front garden - Graham and Ann Stent

Container - Mrs Kath Stratton

Floral display - Mrs Pauline Cushman

Garden feature - Roy and Carol Young

Small floral back garden - Roy and Carol Young

Large floral back garden - Jan Purnell

Small Plantsman’s back garden - Jayne Mcbride

Large Plantsman’s back garden - Robert Herbert

Wildlife back garden - Anne Gray

Schools gardening project - Northern Junior School

Fareham Shopping Centre Children’s art competition - 5 to 6 years Jessica Bailey; 7 to 8 years Alfie Clifton; 9 years+ Freya Lumb

Allotments up to 5 rods (Gardener Cup) - Mike and Fiona Seddon

Allotments over 5 rods (Hammond Memorial Trophy) - Jeffery Nelson

Allotments Overall winner (Barber Cup) - Sara Redman

Best small site - Salterns Allotments

Best large site (Swinburne Cup) - Red Barn Allotments

Council provided sheltered housing or day care - Castle Street day centre

Privately provided sheltered housing or day care - Moresby Court

Shop fronts, business premises and public houses - The Bold Forester

Business parks and commercial landscapes - Portchester Memorial Gardens

Community floral display - Lockswood Bowling Club

Award of outstanding Horticultural Excellence - Lockswood Bowling Club

Community Awards - Jenny Prosser, Burnham Wood Residents, HMS Collingwood Victory Squadron, Fareham Shopping Centre, Iris Smith

Award for Outstanding Contribution - St Margaret’s Nurseries

RHS National Certificate of Distinction - Fareham Conservation Volunteers