Judges from the Royal Horticultural Society were welcomed to Tunbridge Wells last week to evaluate the efforts of the Friends of Calverley Grounds (FoCG) gardening team over the past year.
The visit was part of the RHS’s South & South East In Bloom competition, designed to encourage communities to band together and improve their local environment through gardening.
The judges use three key areas of assessment: Horticultural achievement, and community and environmental participation.
Their results are expected in September, and FoCG members are hoping their efforts will be awarded with a gold rating.
The Calverley gardeners have completed a number of projects this year – including the completion of a two-year renovation of the rose terraces, with 200 new rose bushes being planted.
Sue Daniels, a member of FoCG, is optimistic about the visit, telling the Times: “The judges noticed straight away that the park was now in far better shape than five years ago.
“Just as important as what has been done are our plans for the future – to keep the oasis of green in the heart of town attractive, well-loved and providing something for all age groups.”
