Thatcham in Bloom
Thatcham in Bloom Blooms into Success in Its Inaugural Year
The winners of the first-ever Thatcham in Bloom competition have been announced, celebrating the residents, businesses, schools and community groups who have helped make Thatcham a greener, brighter and more beautiful place to live.
Launched by Thatcham Town Council to encourage community pride, biodiversity and attractive outdoor spaces, the competition attracted a wide range of entries showcasing everything from colourful front gardens and productive allotments to wildlife havens, business displays and community projects.Judges were impressed by the high standard of entries across all categories, with participants demonstrating creativity, dedication and a genuine commitment to enhancing their local environment. Mayor of Thatcham, Cllr Mark Lillycrop, presented awards at a special ceremony on Friday, congratulating all entrants for the enthusiasm and effort they had put into their gardens and displays.
Winners and Awards
Best Street Facing Garden
Winner: Celia Camplin
Runner Up: Brenda Gregory
Highly Commended: Trevor Eggleton
Highly Commended: Richard Dumelow
Best Allotment
Winner: Matthew Pearn-Rowe
Runner Up: Robert Haines
Runner Up: Dawn Shaw
Best Wildlife Garden
Winner: Charmaine Buckley
Best Business Display
Winner: Daisy’s Café
Commended: Rivar Sand & Gravel
Commended: The White Hart
Best Community/Volunteering Garden
Winner: Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre
Best School/Eco Project
Winner: Parson’s Down School
Mayor’s Choice – Best Overall Garden
Winner: Charmaine Buckley
A particular highlight of this year’s competition was the outstanding garden created by Charmaine Buckley, who not only won the Best Wildlife Garden category but was also selected as the recipient of the Mayor’s Choice Award for Best Overall Garden.
Charmaine’s garden perfectly embodied the aims of Thatcham in Bloom.
Created through thoughtful planting, patience and a wonderful passion for nature, the garden provides a thriving habitat for an extraordinary range of wildlife while remaining a beautiful and inspiring outdoor space.
Without relying on chemicals or artificial shortcuts, Charmaine has nurtured a biodiverse haven supporting birds, bees, butterflies, frogs, bats, squirrels and countless beneficial insects.
Her thoughtful approach demonstrates that gardeners can create stunning displays while making a meaningful contribution to local wildlife and the wider environment.
The judges praised her commitment to sustainable gardening and her ability to create a space that is both visually impressive and ecologically valuable.
Speaking on the success of the competition, organisers said:
“It has been wonderful to see so many people taking pride in their gardens, businesses and community spaces.
Every entrant has contributed to making Thatcham a more colourful, welcoming and environmentally friendly town.
The enthusiasm shown in our first year has exceeded expectations and has laid the foundations for Thatcham in Bloom to become a valued annual tradition.”
The competition also highlighted the important role that gardening and community planting projects play in bringing people together, supporting biodiversity and improving wellbeing.
Thatcham Town Council would like to thank all entrants, judges and supporters who helped make the inaugural competition such a success.
Planning is already underway for Thatcham in Bloom 2027 which will take place a little earlier next year to shield from potential heatwaves which were such a challenge for every gardener this year , and residents, businesses, schools care homes and community groups are encouraged to start thinking about next year’s entries.
Whether it’s a front garden, balcony, allotment, business frontage, school project or community space, everyone can play a part in helping Thatcham bloom even brighter in the years ahead.
