Goring wins gold again

GORING won three awards in this year’s Britain in Bloom competition for the Thames & Chilterns region.

Representatives of the town’s bloom group attended a ceremony in Woodley on Wednesday last week.

They were awarded gold in the small town category for the second year running and were presented with a certificate by Miles Watson-Smyth, managing director of Windowflowers, which supplied the hanging baskets in Goring this year.

They then received a glass trophy as Goring achieved the most marks in the category.

The final accolade to be awarded was the regional Pride of Place award. This is marked under three headings, horticulture, community and environmental responsibility.

When the judges visited Goring in July, they were shown round Withymead nature reserve, the station, Gardiner recreation ground with its ornamental flower bed, the wildflower site by the car park and the allotments in the village centre as well as the colourful containers in High Street and other areas and the group’s signature sunflowers.

This year the container plants were red, white and blue to mark the King’s coronation. Volunteers look after the plants and some of them also carry out regular litter picks.

The judges said: “Goring was a delight to visit and judge; lots of vibrant colour within the town and across the bridge. The dedication from the team at Withymead nature reserve to teach others and control a local wetland habitat and riverbank is a massive credit to Goring. The passionate volunteers are also inspiring; you really feel a sense of pride of place with the Bloom team and residents.

“The route we were taken on gave us plenty to see and inspired us to learn about the abundance of history that Goring has to offer. A great benefit is having shops with traditional signs instead of neon lights spoiling the town. We loved seeing the Goring sign on the green area next to the village hall. The workshop to help residents to repair items instead of replacing them with new is commendable. It was lovely to hear that due to Bloom the town was inspired to create a Goring Gap Environmental Organisation, which aims to reduce waste and carbon emissions and work in unison with Goring in Bloom.”

Stephanie Bridle, who chairs Goring in Bloom, said: “I am delighted with these results in what has been a challenging year.

“It is great that the hard work and dedication of our team of volunteers has been recognised.

“The award of the Pride of Place regional prize is a credit to the whole community and one of which I feel particularly proud to accept on their behalf.”

The certificates and trophy will be displayed with the group’s other prizes at the village hall.

In 2019 Goring was the national winner of the small town category.