SOUTH West in Bloom 2025 saw success for Wellington Town Council after it was awarded ‘Gold’ in the Portman Cup for the first time since 2008.

This was the first time that the town council had entered the competition as the authority in charge of open spaces within Wellington, with the council’s Open Spaces Team only forming back in March.

South West in Bloom is a regional horticultural competition that aims to improve and regenerate environments within local communities, through actions such as planting trees, shrubs and flowers, landscaping and conservation.

In addition to the town council receiving the gold award, a number of community groups in Wellington also received accolades from the Royal Horticultural Society.

The Wellington Green Corridor Tree Project and the Wellington Transition Town Long Acre both received level three awards.

Level five awards were given to Wellington Friends of Swains Nature Reserve, Wellington Friends of Wellington park, Wellington Basins Volunteer Group Wellington Transition Town Foxes Field.

Alongside those awards, Wellington Transition Town were able to win separate awards for environmental projects and sustainable gardening practices.

Mayor Cllr Janet Lloyd said: “I always enjoy attending the awards ceremony, this year hosted in Torquay, to see the efforts that various towns and groups have made throughout the year.

“Along with our award, we have gained valuable insight into how we can improve our town to ensure we keep making progress.”

Open Spaces manager Darren Hill added: “I feel so lucky and privileged every day to work in a job that I absolutely love, and in an environment where I am nurtured, valued and have such a meaningful impact on my community and the helping to shape future of the environment we live in.”

“This achievement is an incredible way to mark our first year as a team at Wellington Town Council undertaking the maintenance of the town.”