We also make sure that the planters which we have installed at several key locations around Walmer are maintained and, with the help of our talented volunteers, bloom with beauty for most of the year.

Another important aspect of the work of the Councillors who organise the Festival and the willing volunteers who ensure that it all happens smoothly and well, is looking after Hawkshill - a former World War 1 airfield which the town bought to preserve it from developers and which provides a welcoming place to walk or just sit, look at the sea and think.

For the Councillors who organise this Festival and the volunteers who support them, work begins in January when they choose the colour scheme for the current year’s public displays and organise with local primary schools the competition to design a new poster.

Judging this competition and choosing winners from the literally hundreds of excellent entries is perhaps the most difficult part of the work of the Walmer in Bloom Committee, which has been chaired for more than twelve years by Cllr Sue Le Chevalier.

The winners and the winning School all receive a prize and every child who enters receives a certificate and the winning image is used to promote the competition on all the publicity material for that year.

Almost as difficult is judging the gardens all across Walmer because, unlike most competitions, our gardeners don’t even have to enter!

To make sure that everyone has an equal chance every July the judges walk along every road in the town garden spotting and listing those whose efforts deserve to be acknowledged.

Many people will then be awarded certificates of achievement but this is, after all, a competition so short lists will be drawn up in the different categories and an experienced judge from the Royal Horticultural Society will visit the short-listed gardens and decide which of them should be awarded the ultimate prizes.

The top prizes, along with framed copies of the winning poster designs, will be presented to the winners at an annual ceremony and the whole event will usually be reported on by our local paper and featured both on the Council’s own website and in the Rural Roundup magazine.

But, there is much more to Walmer in Bloom than the competition. The committee and supporters manage over a dozen planters throughout the Town with Winter and Summer planting. Many local organisations provide financial support to purchase the plants and their names are proudly displayed on their planter.

Working with local suppliers, each summer, we hang nearly 50 floral baskets from lamp posts along the seafront.

In 2019 the Hawkshill Working Group came under the management of the Walmer in Bloom committee. Many of the Councillors were already members of both groups so it was a natural move in terms of administration. Hawkshill has its own volunteers which meet on a regular basis to work on the Freedown and they are supported by outside contractors when appropriate.

Looking to the future, the Walmer in Bloom Committee is working with the Climate Change Emergency Group within the Town Council to encourage an increase in bio-diversity within the Town, the development of “bee corridors” and a reduction in the use of harmful pesticides.

If you are not a ‘committee person’ but think that you might like to be involved in the work of the committee and help make your town bloom with practical aspects on a “friends” basis then please let us know by contacting the Town Office.

As part of Walmer in Bloom - the annual celebration of beautiful gardens and floral displays in Walmer - the winners of the school poster competition have been awarded certificates and prizes.

This year entries were received from both The Downs and Parochial CEP Schools, meaning the competition decision making was harder than ever. Popular themes included rainbows, pollinators and watering cans, with posters showcasing the artistic talent and creativity of pupils from both Key Stage 1 and 2.

The winning design, by Konnor Mukudu-Nyakunu who attends The Downs CEP School, features on the poster advertising the Walmer in Bloom competition. Garden judging is now complete and winners will be announced shortly.

The KS1 winner at The Downs School was London Berryman. At Parochial School the KS1 winner was Daisy Benbow, and the KS2 winner was Henry Barlow. Congratulations to them for their excellent entries and our thanks go to all the pupils who entered the competition.

Walmer in Bloom Video-2022

Walmer in Bloom Video-2023

Walmer in Bloom Video-2024 

COMPETITION BLOSSOMS IN WALMER IN BLOOM

Summer 2024 brought around the Walmer In Bloom Garden competition, allowing the resident of the town to show off their determination, creativity and green thumbs. Gardens were judged by members of the town council and for the first time, members of the public could nominate residences and businesses for consideration by the judges.

This year the categories were reduced to single winners of each, although the entire town was split into three geographical areas the judges would pool together their choices and then final winners would be chosen. In the preliminary rounds of judging, several hundred certificates of commendation were delivered along with a small handful to let the finalists know they had been chosen for the next round.

Five categories were chosen this year with winners across the breadth of Walmer, each received a certificate and a gift voucher.

Winner of the Best Garden – 35 Station Road

Best Container – 5 Cheriton Place

Best use of Small Space - Flat 31 Windsor Court

Wildlife Friendly - Boundary Cottage, Boundary Road

Best Hanging Basket- 6 Liverpool Road

Certificates of Excellence winners included: Goodwins on Wellington Parade, 27 Archery Square,1b Granville Road, 15 Halliday Drive, 9 Cavalry Court and 25 The Shrubbery

The competition, run by Walmer Town Council, has now been successfully running for close to 25 years and has garnered prizes from both Kent Wildlife Trust and the South and South East In Bloom Society.