Kirkoswald in Bloom

Kirkoswald in bloom

Cumbria in Bloom               updated 03/10/2021

We have been entering the Cumbria in Bloom competition since 2010. Face to face judging returned again this year. Two experienced judges brought a trainee judge and used the opportunity to use our efforts to explain to the new judge how to assess us by matching what she saw to the criteria set by the RHS. They took great interest in everything and spoke to many villagers about their horticultural and environmental efforts within the village. In the RHS in Bloom competitions, the village is judged rather than the Parish as a whole. They stayed for longer than is usually the case and we think they enjoyed the experience. The awards ceremony will be held on 19th October so we do not have long to wait to find out.

Cumbria in Bloom 2020


Cumbria in Bloom and Britain in Bloom postponed for one year. We ran a garden competition involving the whole Parish. This was done using photography and e-mail to "hand in" photos. Judging was electronic too, no "social distancing" required.


We also ran our photography competition again and winners will appear in the 2021 Kirkoswald Calendar.



Cumbria in Bloom


CUMBRIA IN BLOOM EXCEPTIONAL EFFORT AWARD 2020 WINNER + £50 Prize


CATEGORY                         RECIPIENT


VILLAGE GARDENS             Kirkoswald


Kirkoswald Garden competition 2020


Winning entrants can be viewed by clicking Photogallery here


We are delighted to announce the winners of the Kirkoswald garden competition as follows:

  • The winner of the ‘Large and Lovely’ category is Fiona Tidbury, of West View, Kirkoswald
  • The winner of the ‘Abundant and Productive ‘ category is Bill Nicholson of The Square Kirkoswald, for the allotment that he shares with Barbara Runkel
  • The winner of the ‘Petite and Pretty’ category is Dave Fernie of Raven Ghyll, Kirkoswald
  • The winner of the ‘Wonderful for Wildlife’ category is Ruth Griffiths of Roods Drive, Kirkoswald

Ruth Griffiths is also awarded the overall prize.


The judges, Shelagh Todd, President of Lakeland Horticultural Society and Head of Horticulture at Newton Ring College and Mary Macgregor, Vice President of Tobermory Horticultural Society were bowled over by the photographs they viewed, describing them as a ‘visual feast for our eyes’.


Thanks to all the entrants and to the judges for their hard work.



In addition the judges highly commended the gardens of: 

Pamela Bonnick, of Scalehouses (Large and Lovely)

Margaret Harper - allotment plot, Kirkoswald (Abundant and Productive)

Sheila Small, of Renwick (Petite and Pretty)

Nicola Kirby, of Scalerigg (Wonderful for Wildlife)

2020 Cumbria in Bloom Award certificates

Kirkoswald in Bloom


Our history 2010 onwards


Information about Kirkoswald's entry into Royal Horticultural Society Cumbria in Bloom Competition and the Britain in Bloom competition.


2010 Our first entry into the Cumbria in Bloom competition after some years standing down. Royal Horticultural Society Silver Award.


2011 Kirkoswald  winners of the Eden District Council Trophy for "The Most Improved in Year" and a Silver Gilt Award.


2012 Runners up for Best Village with a Silver Gilt Award. Crown Inn and the Fetherston Arms jointly won The Lakeland Trophy: Best Commercial Premises in Cumbria.


2013 We won Best Village with two Gold Awards from RHS Cumbria in Bloom.


Kirkoswald won four main prizes:

  • The Strikes, Houghton Hall Trophy in the Best Village Category, Gold Award
  • The Kimberley Clark Trophy in the Best Village Overall, Gold Award
  • The Lakeland Trophy for Best Commercial Premises - The Fetherston Arms
  • The County Chairman's Rose Bowl for Industry - The Ravenbridge Stores, Community Shop Kirkoswald

We were also runners up in another five categories:

  • The Doreen Parsons Young Person's Trophy for best project / effort by youngsters - Kirkoswald School After School Club
  • The Provincial Insurance Trophy for Churchyards - Kirkoswald Methodist Chapel
  • The Continental Landscapes Trophy, Special Category - Millie Bank Environmental Project –Kirkoswald Environmental Group
  • The SLC Trophy Tidy Village (Large) – Kirkoswald
  • And finally joint runner up The Friends of the Lake District Trophy for Best Sustainable Development – Kirkoswald Environmental Group


2014 We also won a Gold Award in Cumbria in Bloom. We also won a Silver Gilt Award in the National Britain in Bloom competition.



September 2015


2015 We entered in the Cumbria in Bloom Competition and Britain in Bloom. We won a Gold Award in Cumbria in Bloom. We also won a Silver Gilt Award in the Britain in Bloom competition.


Gold Award in the Village category


Joint Runner up with Houghton - Best Village with a Gold Award - Strikes, Houghton Hall trophy


Joint Winners with Cartmel - Sellafield Licence Co Trophy Tidy Village (Large) -  Rose bowl plus framed certificate


2015 neighbourhood award - Level 5 outstanding - Kirkoswald Environmental Group - Millie Bank conservation. Level 5 is the top score available. October 2015 We were finalists again and won a Silver Gilt medal for the second time in the Britain in Bloom Awards.


September 2016


Best Village Category     GOLD AWARD


Runner up: Strikes, Houghton Hall Trophy for the Best Village Category with a Gold Award


Joint Winner: The Cavendish Trophy for Flood Relief Special Award

Village volunteers cleared 65 bags of "daisy wheels" from Appleby Sewage works and other plastic debris from the hedges between K'o and the Bridge. We cleared trees, logs and other combustible flood deposited material. A wider litter pick in the village and on the approach roads to K'o collected 35 more bags of rubbish, that is 100 bags this year. Many thanks to Eden District Council for providing blue bags, litter picking equipment and then disposing of the waste.


It's Your Neighbourhood Award to Kirkoswald Allotment Orchard Group of Level 5 – Outstanding


This is the highest level achievable and done in just a couple of years. We scored 94/100. This year was the first time we entered the orchard for the competition. Very well done to everyone involved.


Congratulations to everyone who helped with litter picks, tidied before judging and spent time and effort making their own garden nice for everyone to enjoy. The village looks great. Well done.


September 2017


Silver Gilt award in the Village category


It's Your Neighbourhood Award to Kirkoswald Allotment Orchard Group of Level 5 – Outstanding


Kirkoswald Allotment Orchard Group RHS National Certificate of Distinction


Congratulations to everyone who helped with litter picks, tidied before judging and spent time and effort making their own garden nice for everyone to enjoy. The village looks great. Well done.


September 2018


The award was Silver gilt  - and actually a high one at that.


We won the Friends of the Lake District Trophy for the best sustainable development (the orchard and wildlife area) and were awarded a Rose bowl.


The orchard and wildlife area also won an Outstanding award in the "It's Your Neighbourhood Awards".  We were actually given 99 marks out of 100. As a result we have been awarded a National Certificate of Distinction by the Royal Horticultural Society. 


All in all an excellent result.  Well done to everyone and thank you for all your efforts.


Cumbria in Bloom Awards 2019


The village did very well at the awards ceremony this year. The village overall was awarded a Gold Award and was the Best Village Overall.  The judges mentioned the pride and obvious care shown by villagers.


The judges particularly liked the orchard and wildlife area at the allotments awarding us a trophy for Greening Grey Britain and the award for the Most Sustainable Development in the county.  We were also awarded an Outstanding Award by the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood scheme  and a Certificate of Merit from the RHS. They mentioned the Bee Corridor, which was awarded an Outstanding Certificate, and were impressed by the pollinator friendly planting by the wall under the Bell Tower, at the sport’s field and at the top of the allotments.  Our efforts on Millie Bank to preserve the biodiversity earned another Outstanding Award.


2019 Cumbria in Bloom Awards list: we won a Gold Award plus


Winner - of the Strikes, Houghton Hall Trophy Best village with a gold award Gold Award           - Kirkoswald


Winner of the Cavendish Trophy, Greening Grey Britain Special Award                                     - Kirkoswald Allotment Field


Royal Horticultureal Society 2019 "It's your neighbourhood" National Certificate of Distinction - Kirkoswald Orchard and

                                                                                                                                            Allotment Group


Royal Horticultureal Society 2019 "It's your neighbourhood" Award of Level 5 - Outstanding     - Kirkoswald Orchard and

                                                                                                                                            Allotment Group


Royal Horticultureal Society 2019 "It's your neighbourhood" Award of Level 5 - Outstanding     - Kirkoswald Millie Bank and

                                                                                                                                            Raven Beck Group


Royal Horticultureal Society 2019 "It's your neighbourhood" Award of Level 5 - Outstanding     - Kirkoswald


Winner of the Amberol Village Best Sustainable Development                                               - Kirkoswald Environmental

                                                                                                                                            Group


District Special Trophy Winner of the Eden Trophy - Most Improved in year                           - Kirkoswald


This recognizes the efforts of a lot of people, the members of KEG and of the Allotment Orchard and Wildlife Area group but also of all those who look after gardens, tidy, weed, plant pots, litter pick and generally contribute to the beautiful village in which we are lucky to live.  Thank you for all of your efforts.



Cumbria in Bloom Awards 2020 - see top of this page


2021 Postponed


2022 Let's hope