As reported in The Hayle Pump October 01, 2012

Hayle in Bloom Gold!

The judges arrived in Hayle on the 12th of July to judge our entry in the South West in Bloom competition. It was raining. This year we started from the Bluff Inn on the Towans where the judges were able to get a cup of coffee and make a pit stop before the tour began.

Our first stop was the Haven where their enthusiastic gardeners and staff made a good impression (in the rain) and then we took our usual two spins around the roundabout, through Hayle stopping at the Library garden and then on to the Memorial Walk meeting lots of keen (but wet) volunteers on the way.

On Penpol Terrace they stopped to see the World Heritage Site feature (thanks to Terry English, Mike and Anne-Marie) and walked to Foundry Square where we drove them to see Bob’s meadow on Carnsew Road, the Millpond Gardens and then to Paradise Park for the photo session (in the rain) and the feast which Paradise Park kindly provided.

Despite the rain, somehow we had a good feeling because everything had 5 gone well and everyone had remained cheerful.

So along comes the 20th of September and the Hayle in Bloom team sets off by bus to Weston Super Mare to hear the results.

The morning session is about Neighbourhood Awards and we got plenty of those: the Railway Walk, Bob’s Meadow, Library Wildlife Garden, Adopt-a-Plotters, Allotments and King George V Memorial Walk. But the afternoon is when the big announcements are made. Hayle is in a group where most of the other towns are twice the size and the competition is fierce.

The names were called and lots of Silver-Gilt awards were given. But Hayle got Gold - the only Gold! That meant we also won the Preece Cup! There were lots of happy faces in Weston Super Mare and Hayle.

Well done Hayle in Bloom, our gardener Mike Kemp and his helpers Tony and Anne-Marie and everyone who helped out What a team!

John Bennett