Three towns in South Holland have won gold in East Midlands In Bloom 2016.
Spalding, Holbeach and Crowland got top awards, while Long Sutton won silver gilt.
Judges visited in July and scored on horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation.
For Spalding, it was another near miss on being named best large town.
In 2015 it was behind Belper and Market Harborough respectively in the standings; this year Spalding received the same score and again was behind the same two towns, although this time Market Harborough finished top.
Judges said: “Many groups play a large part in Spalding’s floral displays, including the businesses in The Crescent and Francis Street, displays at the front of the station, Sainsbury’s car park and the Nene Court Community Centre. The public houses also deserve special mention, with The Punch Bowl, The Moorings and The Royal Mail Cart vividly enhanced by floral displays.”
Holbeach, Crowland and Long Sutton were all in the small town category.
Holbeach, which won silver gilt last year with a score of 162 had a big uplift to 171. Judges particularly enjoyed “colourful displays around All Saints’ Church, the many good residential gardens and the beautiful poppy flowerbed of remembrance in Carter’s Park”.
Crowland was just one point behind Holbeach.
Judges said: “The Ros Knight Memorial Garden is maturing nicely and is a wonderful oasis of trees, shrubs and perennial plantings; this is a particularly attractive feature for the local community.”
Long Sutton – competing for the 25th year – gained an extra point to last year.
The high level of cleanliness was noted and the “wonderful efforts” made by the children of Long Sutton Primary School.
The school was awarded silver in best school garden category. Best school ornamental garden went to Gosberton House School.
Spotless Spalding – a group dedicated to keeping the town graffiti and litter-free – was commended by judges.
Vernatts Nature Reserve in Spalding won best wildflower and conservation area and Springfields Outlet Shopping and Festival Gardens was again awarded gold in best retail/commercial premises.
The Punch Bowl in New Road, Spalding, got gold for best pub/hotel garden or display.
