Extraordinary community effort for Britain in Bloom as Sevenoaks judged in national finals

Published: 14 August 2025

They came, they saw, they judged! As temperatures hit 30 degrees, RHS Britain in Bloom judges toured Sevenoaks on Tuesday 12 August, looking at planters, flowerbeds and impressive displays of artwork. Sevenoaks is a national finalist in the Town Centres & City Centre category for the RHS Britain in Bloom 2025 competition.

Britain in Bloom judges Richard Budge and Alan Hulme Image: Britain in Bloom judges

A staggering 1,765 volunteering hours have been clocked for this year’s competition. The whole community including school pupils, gardening volunteers of all ages, businesses, community groups and crafters have all worked together to ensure the town looked perfect. Sevenoaks Town Council is incredibly grateful to everyone involved.

On their tour of Sevenoaks, the two judges visited House in the Basement Youth Café, Rockdale Housing Association, West Kent Housing, the Stag, Sevenoaks Station and the Town Centre, finishing up at the beautiful Vine Gardens. The judging was filmed by the RHS and will be broadcasted on BBC’s The One Show when the winner is announced later this autumn.

Image: Oakley Day Nursey showing work at Rockdale Housing Association

The judges chatted with some of the volunteers aged from two to 100 about their involvement. They met with gardeners and crafters from Rockdale Housing Association, Sevenoaks Soroptimists and Oakley Day Nursery. They also met Willow, 11, and Bonnie, 10, who had both contributed to Sevenoaks in Bloom. Willow had crocheted three charming toppers for post boxes in Sevenoaks, and Bonnie alongside her friend Emma, took part in a sponsored litter pick to raise money for plants at the Vine.

Volunteer Bonnie with planter Image: Volunteer Bonnie at Vine Gardens

This year’s Sevenoaks in Bloom theme was 'Celebrating Bugs – edible planting and planting for pollinators’. In keeping with this, schools and community groups across Sevenoaks helped create bug-themed crafts and artwork.

Knitted bees at Upper High Street Gardens Image: Upper High Street Gardens knitted bees

Year 12 students from Trinity School created an amazing wire insect sculpture. Year 10 students at Weald of Kent Grammar School made withie sculptures of dragonflies and a snail. Sevenoaks Day Nursery and 15th Sevenoaks (Otford) Beaver Scouts were amongst those who painted bugs on rocks. Several community groups including Rockdale, Knole U3A, Knit and Natter, Soroptimists and Forget-me-not Café attendees knitted and crocheted bees and other bugs. The bug artworks will remain around town, including at the Vine Garden, over the summer holidays for the community to enjoy.