THERE was success for Felixstowe at tonight's national floral awards - with judges praising the resort for its eye-catching and colourful gardens.The resort received a Silver Award in the RHS Britain in Bloom competition - the largest horticultural competition in Europe - in the coastal towns category, which was won by Exmouth.

Richard Cornwell

THERE was success for Felixstowe at tonight's national floral awards - with judges praising the resort for its eye-catching and colourful gardens.

The resort received a Silver Award in the RHS Britain in Bloom competition - the largest horticultural competition in Europe - in the coastal towns category, which was won by Exmouth.

Representatives from Felixstowe Town Council were among more than 450 gardening enthusiasts and community champions who attended the winners dinner at Chester Race Course, with special guest, TV gardener Chris Beardshaw, presenting the prizes.

Each of the 69 towns entered in the different categories was judged on their floral displays, permanent landscaping, sustainable development, environmental initiatives, public awareness and community participation.

RHS judges Jeff Bates and Jim Knight were impressed with Felixstowe's colourful private gardens, the impressive bedding at The Triangle, where the containers and baskets were described as “very eye-catching”, the displays at the police and fire stations, and the sponsorship gained for various floral features throughout the town.

“Peewit Caravan Park has a colourful reception area; the gardens at the Elizabeth Orwell Hotel are well-maintained and cheerfully bright,” said Mr Bates and Mr Knight in their report.

“The children of the Colneis Junior School are involved in planting in the town centre; we were also happy to see their work in their own school grounds.”

Felixstowe's entry also included a fantastic floral 3D seaplane to mark the 50th anniversary of the RAF being given the Freedom of Felixstowe and the 90th anniversary of the RAF, plus the Felixstowe in Flower Scheme, a floral trail through the seaside town with 120 sponsored hanging baskets, plus tubs and troughs.

Roger Burnett, chairman of the National Britain in Bloom judging panel, said: “Despite the poor summer weather the finalists proved beyond doubt just what can be achieved when communities work together.

“Britain in Bloom has, in the past, been seen as a floral competition, judged on the quality and quantity of hanging baskets and bedding plants.

“However with the recent shift towards sustainable planting and environmental responsibility, we are seeing fantastic innovation not only in style of planting but in the choice of plants used.”

What do you think of Felixstowe's floral displays? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk