Yate and Dodington in Bloom

Britain in Bloom is not just about formal spaces, but about improving our community, gardens and open spaces.

If you enjoy volunteering, gardening or being part of something worthwhile to our community, please come along and join in.

How to get in touch

For more information or to get involved in any of our activities, please contact Chair Christine Howard via Yate Town Council at Poole Court, Poole Court Drive, Yate BS37 6AG, email: or call 01454 866506.

Click here to download the Yate and Dodington in Bloom Volunteer form [PDF, 41kB]

Latest News

2013 Launch

2013 launch with Steve Webb MP © Dave Bruten

Yate and Dodington in Bloom launched their 2013 entry in South West in Bloom at the St George's Day Celebrations at Yate Heritage Centre.

Local MP Steve Webb officially opened this year’s campaign and then tried his luck at the tombola.

Karen, from Iron Acton Garden Centre, encouraged the children to enter the sunflower growing competition. IAGC will judge the final photographs and present the awards.

There is also a ‘Blooming Fun’ painting competition running at the Yate Library for children to enter. The winners will go forward to the South West in Bloom regional final.

Sunflower competition © Dave Bruten

Blooming Fun! Painting Competition

Paint an A4 picture of plants or vegetables having fun.

There are prizes for each age group winner: Group A: under 6 and Group B: 7 to 11

There is also a ‘Blooming Fun’ painting competition running at the Yate Library for children to enter.

The winner of each age group will be entered in the South West in Bloom regional competition.

Please print clearly your name, address, telephone no, and age on the back of the picture. Closing date is May 31st.

Entries to be handed in at Yate Library.

South West in Bloom 2013

Photograph of Tracey Wilson MBE © Dave Bruten

February 21st saw the launch of The South West in Bloom competition with a Spring Seminar held in Trowbridge.

Entrants travelled from many areas of the South West, including Yate and Dodington, whose committee spent a profitable day listening to the RHS Head of Shows, Bob Sweet and Tracy Wilson MBE who spoke entertainingly on Sustainable v Seasonal Planting.

The afternoon workshops were geared to looking at areas where delegates could improve their entry and extend their expertise throughout their community.

We are all ready to extend last year’s successful work and would welcome the involvement of new helpers.

If you would like to join us in making your community one of the best in the region, please contact the Chairman on: or speak to any of the committee members.

Yate and Dodington in Bloom 2013

Photo of the mosaic at Yate Station (Gloucester side) courtesy of Dave Bruten

Following our successes in 2012 when we won a Silver Gilt Award, work has already started on planning this year’s entry.

Last year we received 4 neighbourhood awards: Yate Common, St Mary’s Churchyard, Friends of Kingsgate Park and Wapley Common and the Orchard for the Future. This year we hope to have 7 neighbourhoods entering from both Dodington and Yate. The Shopping Centre had their usual stunning display of hanging baskets winning the Amberol Cup for the best business floral display in the South West.

Many of you will have noticed the new planters both in Station Road and outside Cranleigh Court shops. These will continue to be planted and maintained this year, as will the tumble drier drums along the Indesit boundary fence. Work will continue at Yate Station building on last year’s tremendous improvement and the installation of the mosaic made by Tyndale School children which now welcomes passengers to Yate.

New areas of need such as the Jubilee Gardens, cleared last year, will now be planted. Many community groups have already committed their support in helping the team improve the area, making it more attractive and welcoming for all residents and visitors. The final route will be confirmed as soon as possible.

We would welcome support and involvement wherever possible from all members of our community. If you could offer support please get in touch with the Chairperson by email on .

Yate in Bloom win Silver Gilt!

RHS South West in Bloom 2012 Awards presented by Ann Swithinbank and W-s-M Mayor David Hitchins

At the Award Ceremony in Weston Super Mare on September 20th, Yate and Dodington in Bloom expected to maintain their Silver Award from 2011.

Thanks to the tremendous effort put into this year’s entry both by the committee, volunteers and community, we were awarded a Silver Gilt in the St. Bridget Cup category.

In the morning we were thrilled to achieve 4 Neighbourhood awards: Friends of Kingsgate Park, St Mary’s Churchyard, Yate Common and Wapley Common and the Orchard for the Future.

The afternoon session was for the Regional Awards when we received our Silver Gilt certificate followed by the presentation of the Discretionary Awards.

The highlight of the afternoon was a Discretionary Award for the best business floral display. The Amberol Cup was given to Yate Shopping Centre - see below for more.

The judges were particularly impressed by the support given to the Centre by the businesses with their wonderful floral displays noting the excellent water management with the shopping centre basket drip irrigation system.

The awards will be on display in Yate Shopping Centre with full information of how you can become involved in next year’s entry either by joining the committee or becoming a community volunteer.

Yate Shopping Centre Blossoms

Christine Howard, Yate in Bloom, with Andrew Lowrey, Yate Shopping Centre Manager

Yate Shopping Centre has won the Amberol Cup for the Best Business Floral Display in the 2012 South West in Bloom Awards, part of the RHS Britain in Bloom competition.

Commenting on the win, Centre Manager, Andrew Lowrey, said: “Every year we play a major part in the town’s Britain in Bloom campaign and we are proud that the centre caught the judges eyes. It’s a great credit to our team that we have won the South West award for the best business display. It reflects well on the town as well as the Shopping Centre.

“One of our local independent retailers ‘Merediths’ supplies the flowers annually and the centre recently invested in new planters which has seen bigger and brighter flower displays. The investment certainly has been worthwhile resulting in great feedback from our customers and winning the Amberol Cup.”

Andrew Lowrey with some of his team with their Amberol Cup in Yate Shopping Centre - photo by Dave Bruten

Local Britain in Bloom Chair, Councillor Sue Walker, said: “We value the work that Andy and his team at the Shopping Centre put in to support our annual Yate in Bloom entry. We’re obviously very pleased for them to win the Amberol Cup and it’s a major boost for the town and our efforts as well.”

The annual Britain in Bloom is an important element of Yate Shopping Centre’s local corporate responsibility campaign, working closely with the Town Council and other major stakeholders throughout the year.

Thank You!

"Following the visit by the RHS in Bloom Judges, I would like to say an enormous thanks to the people of Yate and Dodington during the lead up to the In Bloom judging day.

Volunteers, businesses and Council staff all pulled together to make a real difference and the town looked lovely.

Volunteers worked hard removing graffiti, litter picking, cleaning roads signs, clearing gutters and reclaimed areas where vegetation had grown across the foot paths, in addition to the planting.

The response from the public has been amazing and they have really appreciated the improvements to the parks open spaces, station area and Station Road.

The judges were very impressed with the improvements, and the support from the community groups and local businesses.

Thanks again to all who supported us. The residents of Yate and Dodington were all winners."

Sue Walker
2012 Chair Yate and Dodington In Bloom

2012 Judging

Large colourful umbrellas were the order of the day for the judging of Yate and Dodington in Bloom.

Terry Porter and Tom Sharples were the visiting judges, accompanied by trainee judge Denise James.

The Judges’ tour started in the newly opened cinema in the Armadillo. Despite the rain they were delighted with the many and varied aspects of Yate and Dodington.

They were particularly impressed with the improvements made at Yate Station and the ‘Welcome’ mosaic that will be installed there.

They were also delighted by the unusual ‘tumble dryer drum’ planters donated by Indesit and the colourful wildflowers in front of the Cranleigh Court flats.

The judges thoroughly enjoyed seeing different aspects of Kingsgate Park, and were thrilled with Dodington Allotments which were the best maintained ones they had seen for some time.

The tour ended with tea in St Mary’s Church where they met Steve Webb and the volunteers and supporters who have put in so much hard work this year. The Judges made a short tour of the churchyard before leaving.

2012 Garden Competitions

The winners were:

• First – Mrs Merrett, 26 Walton Heath, Yate - £30 Iron Acton Garden Voucher
• Second – Mrs Everson, 71 Finch Road, Chipping Sodbury - £20.00 Iron Acton Garden Voucher
• Third – Mr Old, 16 Wentworth, Yate - £10 Iron Acton Garden Centre Voucher
• Winner of the draw for judging was Mrs Wilby, 55 Hay Leaze, Yate - £10 Iron Acton Garden Voucher

Improvements to Yate Railway Station

Yate and West Dodington in Bloom has been working hard clearing the area to the rear of the Gloucester bound platform and building flower beds, to improve the welcome visitors receive to Yate. The resulting planting scheme you can see in the picture was designed by the community.

The Partnership would be very interested to hear from volunteers who would be willing to maintain the flower beds.

Photo courtesy of Abdul Choudhury

Schools, Youth and Community Groups in Yate and Dodington: We need your help!

As well as the judging route, part of the judging criteria for ‘Britain in Bloom’ is to produce a portfolio.

Photo by Lin Kendall

This includes photographs, drawings and written information on a wide range of local community projects and achievements as well as information on local birds, wildlife and plants.

We know that many local nurseries, schools and youth groups have created wonderful wormeries, nest boxes and other wildlife habitats.

We would love to receive any photographs, paintings or stories documenting your achievements to include in the portfolio.

St. Nicholas’ Family Centre Community Garden

After many years hard work by Jenifer Shiles, MP Steve Webb opened a community garden at St. Nicholas’ Family Centre in 2009.

The garden is for the whole centre and every organisation as well as the general public, and is at St. Nicholas Family Centre, Chargrove, Abbotswood, Yate BS37 4LG.

Volunteers are very welcome to help with maintenance. Contact Jenifer Shiles at if you would like to help.

Find out more...

Yate and Dodington in Bloom is supported by:

• Yate Town Council
• Dodington Parish Council
• South Gloucestershire Council
• Sodbury and Yate Business Association
• Dave Bruten, photographer and photographic/AV display organiser
• Lin Kendall, photographer