Sandown has been chosen to represent the South and South East in the RHS’s 2022 Britain in Bloom Coastal Town category.
In the past, there have been 2 coastal town categories – those under 12,000 electorate and those above. Amalgamating the 2 is one of the changes the RHS is making to the competition this year.
The judges have an interesting group to judge demonstrating the beauty and variety of Britain’s coastal resorts: Sandown, representing the South East, Sidmouth representing the South West, Herm representing Guernsey, St. Helier representing Jersey and North Berwick representing Scotland.
The RHS is now giving more weight to sustainability in planting, making the competition more eco-friendly. Judging is based on horticulture, the environment and the community. In the past Sandown has done particularly well in the environment section and have always given planting priority to sustainability.
Christine Jackson, Chair of Sandown Green Town Volunteers, who spearheads the Sandown entry, is calling on local businesses and residents to step-up to the challenge…
“Sandown has a wonderful family friendly beach and delightful views with shipping regularly moored in the bay. 2021 saw a new vitality along the Esplanade and Culver Parade with new concessionaires bringing fresh life to the seafront. We are part of one of the few biospheres in England and part of a Marine Conservation Zone. This is an opportunity to show case Sandown and the Island.
“The judges’ route will run from the Broadway and Battery Gardens, Ferncliff, Beachfield Road, Pier Street, the Esplanade, the High Street, Culver Parade to Browns and beyond. Whilst we show off specific areas, such as the High Street planters and the Pier planting the judges take note of everything they see along the route. So every window display, front-garden and flower pot really counts. We all need to be green-fingered this year”.
Ben Holbrook, Deputy Chair of Sandown Green Town Volunteers, has said:
“This is a great honour to be representing the whole of the South & South East & The Isle Of Wight. We know that we have run down areas, like many other coastal resorts, and we are hoping that their owners will appreciate that this is an opportunity to raise Sandown’s profile. Empty shops windows with displays, that are clean and properly fenced off sites that are kept clean & tidy could make a real difference to the town”
