FOLLOWING months of hard work, members of Sodbury in Bloom welcomed two judges from Britain in Bloom to Chipping Sodbury.

The green-fingered volunteers have spent the past year sprucing up the market town, and are hoping to win big at this year’s South West in Bloom awards.

Competition judges arrived in the town on Thursday, July 13, where they were given a presentation of Sodbury in Bloom activities over the past year.

From there, the group took a guided tour of the town, stopping off at key beauty spots and gardens along the way.

The judges met with mayor Wendy Whittle and members of Waitrose’s gardening club, which was set up with the help of Sodbury and Bloom.

They also visited staff and pupils at Old Sodbury Primary School, who have been busy planting vegetables in the school grounds and are hoping to receive a South West in Bloom Neighbourhood Award.

Jane Lund, design co-ordinator at South West in Bloom, said that the judges’ visit was “the highlight” of a year’s work.

“The judges seemed really impressed and they particularly appreciated Hatherall’s Yard,” she said.

“Sodbury in Bloom is not just about the flowers - although they are great for people’s wellbeing - but also about encouraging wildlife and making the town green.”

Jane added that the judges “particularly enjoyed” the story behind a new heron statue that has taken up residence in a boat planted by Sodbury in Bloom.

The previous statue was damaged earlier in the year, but a local company came to the rescue with a brand new 2D bird.

He was designed and fabricated by Craig Perrett, an engineer who works at the Yate-based W H Bence Coachworks.

Jane said: “We all love our new heron and can’t thank Craig enough.

“We’d also like to thank all of the volunteers, businesses and community groups who helped to make Chipping Sodbury a great contender for a gold medal.”

The results of South West in Bloom competition will be announced in October.