Godalming to Represent South and South East England in Britain in Bloom

Godalming has been selected to represent the South & South East in the national Britain in Bloom competition, run by RHS.  In this context South & South East covers Kent, Surrey, East & West Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, East & North Dorset, and East Wiltshire.  

A tremendous accolade, representing the culmination of 6 years of LibDem led action at GTC.

When LibDems became the largest party on GTC in 2019 there were no direct employees engaged in either grounds or buildings maintenance.  Instead the council was following Tory dogma that outsourcing is best, and had attached themselves to contracts let and controlled by Waverley.  The result was that GTC were unable to control the time and manner in which work was carried out.  The state of the cemeteries was a frequent source of complaint.  

One of the LibDems first action was to take grounds and buildings maintenance in house with recruitment of two operatives, which over the years has grown to four.  This reduced costs significantly, and now our green spaces are award winners.  

In 2025 GTC was recognised in four categories:

• Small Cemetery of the Year – Nightingale Cemetery – Gold award
• Large Cemetery of the Year – Eashing Cemetery – Gold award and Overall Category winner
• Small Town Centre – Godalming Primary Retail Centre – Gold award
• Workplace Well-being Garden – Godalming Youth Service – Gold award

Full details of the work at the cemeteries and in the town centre are given in the profiles submitted for judging in 2025, which are included below.  They emphasise that, in Godalming, the focus is on the environment;  not just pretty flowers for show.  

It is that emphasis on sustainability that resulted in Godalming’s selection to represent South & South East.  Our plants have a very low carbon footprint.  Many are grown from seed or plugs in our polytunnel at Eashing cemetery and transported a short distance in our electric vehicles.  Initiatives are undertaken across the town, some in conjunction with community groups;  from grass verges to railway stations.  Neither of these are GTC responsibilities, but have benefitted from our input.

The inclusion of the youth service among the 2025 winners, at the first time of entry, is particularly pleasing, as the youth service is another significant initiative introduced by Lib Dems, and a success story in it’s own right.

In summary this accolade highlights three core LibDem values:

• Value for money - in this case direct labour has proved more cost effective than outsourcing
• Commitment to sustainability
• Pride in place and in our community

All values we will need in the new world of West Surrey.  We’re lucky to have such a stable platform as GTC to progress these values at local level. 

All values we will need in the new world of West Surrey.  We’re lucky to have such a stable platform as GTC to progress these values at local level.