AFTER a difficult summer of warm weather, the Wellington in Bloom awards celebration ceremony returned for the first time in more than a decade.

Residents from within the Wellington and Rockwell Green boundary were invited by the town council to enter the first competition since 2010, marking 16-years since the competition last took place.

Wellington in Bloom is a chance to celebrate the local community, and the pride people take in making Wellington and Rockwell Green such a beautiful place to live.

Wellington Town Council's open spaces manager Darren Hill, alongside former mayor Cllr Janet Lloyd, judged the garden displays.

Gardens were marked out of 50 points, with awards for the best container, best hanging basket and best sustainable garden.

Mr Hill said: “The reintroduction of the In Bloom Garden Competition by Wellington Town Council is a fantastic opportunity for residents to showcase their hard work, creativity, and horticultural skills.”

Temperatures reached as high as 33°C during the summer in Wellington, with estimates that the town spent 20 days at or above 30°C, and 56 above 25°C.

Rising temperatures also saw a hosepipe ban implemented on August 8 by South West Water, making it even harder to maintain the stunning displays, with gardens marked on Friday, July 17.

That struggle was all forgotten in a wonderful evening, as the awards recognised the time, effort, creativity and dedication that local gardeners have put into their gardens and outdoor spaces.

Wellington has a history of beautiful landscapes, winning the prestigious gold award in the Portman Cup as part of the South West in Bloom competition, a real milestone for the local community.

Furthermore, Wellington Park was recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in March, being awarded five stars, and given the RHS Pride in Parks Award.