The Cotswold town of Stonehouse in Gloucestershire has been crowned the winner of Britain in Bloom, a nationwide gardening competition. The town’s self-designated community arboretum, which encompasses every tree within its boundaries, impressed the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) judges.
Stonehouse’s entire population now acts as stewards for its diverse tree population, which includes roughly 150 varieties, such as hardy London plane, Tibetan cherry, and swamp cypress, spread throughout the town. This dedication builds on the community’s established tradition of safeguarding its forests and greenery.
The local council has adopted Stonehouse’s Community Arboretum Management Plan, aiming to expand tree coverage to 30% by 2040. To help young trees thrive, neighbors volunteer as caretakers, ensuring they receive adequate water during their early growth stages.
After a storm in 2024 damaged the historic weeping Globe Willow, originally planted in 1921, residents propagated cuttings and planted them in private gardens. Meanwhile, the town’s horticultural team has fine-tuned planting layouts based on wind and sunlight patterns across different areas.
Stonehouse outcompeted 43 other finalists in the Britain in Bloom contest, earning top honors with an RHS Gold and victory in the Small Town division before claiming the overall title. Other award recipients this year were Truro, Bosworth, Henley, Rochdale, and Fletching.
The theme of caring for trees is noticeable across other communities in the UK finals. Rugby in Bloom, for example, secured over 5,000 trees for 25 farmers across the region, saving and creating a combined 810 metres of hedgerow. North Berwick, which won in the Coastal category, is responding to stormy conditions by planting Maram grass into the sand dunes to reduce erosion.
In the Small City & City category, winners Wrexham in Bloom have filled 41,000 litter picking bags since 2021 and installed 1,125 hedgehog boxes, plus swift boxes made using recycled wood. The Britain in Bloom competition, which has been running since 1964, celebrates communities across the UK using gardening to make positive changes to their local environment.
Stonehouse also has a target of seeing at least 95 per cent of newly planted trees reach maturity, and locals are encouraged to act as tree guardians, watering them as they establish.
