WHAT's ON IN GODALMING?

We have produced a newsletter which has been sent to all our members -
to read a copy - CLICK HERE

THE GODALMING LOTTERY

Sadly GOLO - The Godalming Lottery has now closed - our last draw was in March 2020
Please read the chairman's report HERE

Godalming in bloom

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic - Godalming in Bloom 2020 has been cancelled

Godalming in Bloom 2020 was again sponsored by Cornmeter, J Gorringe & Son Funeral Directors (part of the Dignity Group), Godalming Town Council, Seymours Estate Agents, Squires Garden Centre in Milford and Waitrose in Godalming.

Godalming in Bloom 2019 Sponsors

We welcomed Jeanette Englefield and Reg Swaden to our 2020 team... but alas they and we were unable to do any judging this year - we are delighted to report that all our 2020 sponsors are on-board again with us in 2021.

Going back a year...

We were so grateful to our sponsors for funding the 2019 competition and would like express our sincere thanks for their sponsorship and support.

Godalming in Bloom is a fun and friendly gardening competition, open to anyone and everyone who gardens in Binscombe, Busbridge, Farncombe and Godalming.

Godalming in Bloom is run by horticulturalists working as volunteers who hope to encourage everyone to garden and take care of the beautiful area in which we are so lucky to live in.

We visit schools, allotments, residential homes, restaurants, pubs, offices, anywhere and everywhere we can encourage people to garden. We'd like to encourage you to grow plants that are beneficial for bees and other insects, and to look after our wildlife and we invite you to enter our fun and friendly competition.

Congratulations to all the winners of 2019's Godalming in Bloom! A full winners listing is shown below and please enjoy a selection of photos from this year's gardens and Awards Evening.

Godalming in Bloom 2019 gardens gallery

Godalming in Bloom 2019 Awards Evening

Godalming in Bloom 2019 commercial judging

So what happened LAST YEAR?

The following is a summary of who won what at the prize-giving evening

Following an intensive programme of judging in June, the annual prize-giving took place at the Wilfrid Noyce Centre on Wednesday 10^th July in front of a record audience.

Godalming in Bloom celebrates the horticultural best of local Allotments, Commercial properties, Gardens and Schools.

Our thanks to our sponsors this year, without them we would struggle to achieve our programme and with it, the professionalism that is expected from us – our thanks to Cornmeter, Gorringes, Godalming Town Council, Seymours, Squires and Waitrose.

The winners were:

SCHOOLS

Waitrose Cup for best Diary – Busbridge Infants
WWF (best area for wildlife) – St Hilarys School
Gordon-Smith Tankard for best Scarecrow – Green Oak School
Junior Gardeners (Collective)– Green Oak School
Doris Woods Trophy (Mayors Award) – The Wharf Nursery School
Rotary Shield for best School Garden – Moss Lane

Presentation of certificates were presented to - Busbridge Junior and St Edmunds School. All the Schools also received Gardening Vouchers from Squires.

ALLOTMENTS

Waverley Glass Trophy for best self-sufficiently plot – John & Linda Alderton
Rose Turk Trophy (Wildlife & best use of recycled materials) - Margaret Heath
Barlow Roffe Swayne Trophy for best mixed plot) - Jackie Boddington
Cornmeter Trophy for best companion planting – Emma and Chris Beswick
Rocco & Betty Trophy (outstanding community support & expertise) - Tim Stephens
Jack Morris Plate for best Allotment – Jennifer Snapes

COMMERCIAL

Multiple Retailers – Gorringe & Son
Multiple Stores – No. 2 Church Street
Independent Retailer – Cornmeter
Professional Services – Godalming Musum
Best Pub Garden – The Richmond Arms
Best Pub – The Star

GARDENS

GG Shield Community Gardens – Sunrise Senior Living
GG Shield Managed Community Gardens (Phillips Memorial) – Waverley Borough Council
GG Shield (private residences) – James Helyer
Town Council Award (best small garden) - Anne Dale
Small Garden (best first time entry) – Oliver Scarfe
Large Garden - Ian & Celia Ricketts
Special Award - Stephen Absolom
Mayor’s Rose Bowl – Basil & Anne Newman
Legg Shield – Julie Bunting
Secretts Shield - Ann Bellamy
Godalming in Bloom Award – Jennifer Snapes
Dawn Waters Trophy – Elizabeth Ayres
Gordon Devereux Rose Bowl – Roy & Josephine Bicknell
GOLO Gardener of the Year – 'Cook'

Anne Eve was presented with the Chairman’s Award.

Our thanks also to Pizza Express who provided us with pizzas at the prize-giving - to The Star for providing the wine at the prize-giving - to Sarah Squire for presenting the School's vouchers and to Kim Finlayson who joined the School's judging team and finally to the Mayor of Godalming (Penny Rivers) and her Consort (Paul Rivers) who attended all the judging visits this year - Penny also said at our prize-giving...

"How many kinds of Flowers grow in Godalming's town gardens?

Let's tell you now of some that we've seen and those we miss you'll surely pardon.

Sweet peas and roses, foxgloves and poppies, carrots, peas and scarecrows, marigolds, tomatoes, compost and companion planting, re-use of zimmer frames and bee-friendly water all make Godalming "Blooming Marvellous"!

Congratulations to all the gardeners and thanks to all those who organise and judge Godalming in Bloom and good luck for 2020... and to misuse a popular catch phrase "KEEP PLANTING"!

Simon Crowther – Chairman

You can now follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Finally...

Beth Otway is, as always, also sorely missed - however she is still very busy and writes for Vantage Point Magazine – read her monthly column and go to www.pumpkinbeth.com for more gardening tips & advice.

We welcomed Maggie Swaden, John Blades and Kim Finlayson to our judging team for 2019

If you are interested in becoming involved, let chairman Simon Crowther - simoncrowther7@gmail.com or secretary Anne Eve at secretaryGIB@gogodalming.org.uk know.