Sevenoaks pulls out all the stops for first judging visit for Britain In Bloom!

Under dazzling blue skies and a scorching sun, the first round of judging took place in Sevenoaks for RHS Britain In Bloom 2025 in which the town is a national finalist.

The whole community including school pupils, gardening volunteers of all ages, businesses, community groups, crafters and the town council’s open spaces team had pulled out all the stops to make the town look stunning.

Despite the heat [on Friday July 11], the flowerbeds were at their peak and withie sculptures, knitted bees and bugs, painted pebbles and wire hanging insects were on display throughout the Vine Gardens.The judge for South and South East In Bloom regional final, Peter Every, went on a route around Sevenoaks. He met volunteers from age two to 100 who had all worked to help Sevenoaks In Bloom's campaign 'Celebrating Bugs', edible planting and planting for pollinators.

As well as colourful planters and edible plants, LEGO flowers and crafts were on display at HitB created by young people, and St John's Primary School Year 2 Forest School exhibited created clay bugs and minibeasts.

The judge visited Rockdale Housing Association, whose residents and staff had put in an amazing 1,000 hours of volunteer work for In Bloom 2025!

Head gardener Annette Whitney showed Peter the display of bugs created by residents with a border of pollinator friendly plants by pupils at Walthamstow Hall School. Tots from Oakley Day Nursery, who had been frequent visitors to do In Bloom activities with the residents, also met the judge.

Judging continued in the Upper High Street Gardens. After visiting the station and West Kent Housing to view the edible planting, Mr Every moved to the Vine where the new surfacing at the Vine Gardens pergola area looked stunning.

The Town Crier Chris Conlan, in full regalia despite 30 degree heat, joined Mr Every and the Deputy Mayor to congratulate Year 12 students from Trinity School on their wire insect sculptures on display.

The judge also admired the withie sculptures created by students in Year 10 at Weald of Kent Grammar School Sevenoaks, of dragonflies and a snail.

He congratulated the team from Soroptimist International who have tended the sensory and herb beds at the Vine, plus the bed at Sevenoaks Station, for many years.

Charming displays of little knitted bees, ladybirds, bugs, caterpillars, spiders and even worms and hedgehogs were all round the Vine Gardens created by crafters including from Rockdale, Knole U3A, Knitt and Natter, Soroptimists and the Forget Me Not Café at Bat and Ball Station.

Painted rocks in the flowerbeds were created by local children at the town council’s In Bloom rock painting workshop in May and by nurseries including Sevenoaks Day Nursery, who held special painting sessions to create them. 

Crocheted postbox toppers by Willow Loudon, 11, are adorning the postbox on the corner of roads near the Vine, and on the postbox outside Lloyd’s Bank in the High Street.

The next round of judging for Britain In Bloom, where Sevenoaks is the South East entry for the Town Centre category, will be on August 12. The final result will be announced in the autumn. Last year Sevenoaks won Gold in all areas in South and South East In Bloom and the Vine was awarded Park of the Year.

Sevenoaks was last a national finalist in Britain In Bloom in 2022 when it won the Silver Gilt Award (the level just below Gold).

Gardening volunteers are urged to come along on August 5 for a Tidy Up Day, meeting at the Bus Station café at 10am and 1pm. Visit www.sevenoakstown.gov.uk for more information or call 01732 459953.

SIDEBAR: The toy insect displays will be available through the summer holidays for children to enjoy. They will be delighted to spot them all round the gardens nestled amongst the flowers or swarming up the pergola!

And there's a free fun educational Bug-tastic trail to collect from the cafe (or the leaflet holder outside if closed) to spot and learn about bugs, and pollinator-friendly plants, with a sticker reward when they've done it. The licensed cafe is open for drinks, light meals, ice creams and cakes or bring a picnic.