Retford-in-Bloom 2025 - Retford Civic Society

Despite the very hot and dry start to the year, 2025 has been a good year for Retford in Bloom with many new front garden entries as well as the usual high achievers and the ‘Waterside Gardens’, a category which was introduced four years ago.

In many cases shop fronts were not able to provide their usual magnificent floral displays, but surprisingly, many pubs, despite the restrictions on their profitability, managed to produce welcoming and colourful displays.

We must remember to shop, eat and drink locally if we want our town centre to survive.

Schools and Pre-School Centres received their potato and sunflower growing kits and a number have managed to grow excellent crops and received certificates and garden centre tokens as a reward.

A special mention must be made to the Retford in Bloom Committee, Bob Davenport, Alan Laurie, Adrian Sumner, Lesley Sumner, Derek Turner, Joan Turner, Mylle West, Joan Garton, Marjorie Crookes, Chris Collins, Irene Lewis and Ann Clay-Thomas whose enthusiasm and involvement have once again made Retford in Bloom work successfully this year. At our Presentation Evening at Grove Street Methodist Church certificates were presented by the President of the Rotary Club of Retford, Mary Saddington and the town mayor Cllr Harriet Digby. The Rotary Club of Retford together with Retford Civic Society had sponsored this year’s event. It was wonderful to see so many people in attendance and the schools were well represented.

The winners of this year’s competition are:

Front Gardens:

East Ward – Small 1^st – 17 Osberton Road. 2^nd– 4 Brixworth Way. 3^rd= – 9 Crossways and

15 Spa Common.

East Ward – Large 1^st – 1 Winston Grove. 2^nd – 13 Durham Close. 3^rd– 24 St Saviours Close

North Ward – Small 1st – 15 Oakdale Road. 2^nd – 118 Cambourne Crescent. 3^rd – 145 Galway Crescent.

North Ward – Large 1^st – 1 Tiln Court. 2^nd– Rustic Lodge, Cricket Field Lane. 3^rd – 52 Galway Crescent

South Ward – Small 1^st – 58 White Park Place. 2^nd – 6 Church Lane. 3^rd= – 1 Cheyne Court and

7 Lindrick Court.

Highly Commended: 29 Edgbaston Drive, 6 Troon Court and 1 Oxton Way.

South Ward – Large 1^st – 2 Marquis Gardens. 2^nd – 1 St Helen’s Road. 3^rd – 33 High Street.

Consistent High Standard Over Many Years: 33 High Street, Ordsall.

Highly Commended: 13 Chidmere.

West Ward – Small 1^st – 13 West Park Place. 2^nd – 2a Ordsall Park Road. 3^rd= – 21 Whinney Moor Lane and 23 West Park Place.

West Ward – Large 1^st= – 30 Ordsall Park Road and The Rectory Barn, Rectory Road. 2nd- 3 Babworth

Crescent.

Waterside Gardens: 1^st – Woodcock’s Cottage. 2^nd – 5 Hannam’s Cottages. 3^rd= – 23 Meden Way and 1 Blackstope Lane.

Schools Potato Growing

Secondary:

1^st – Retford Oaks Academy.

Primary: 1^st – Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School. 2nd – St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School.

3^rd – St Swithun’s C of E Primary Academy.

Pre-School: 1st – West Street Pre-School. 2nd – Claremont House Nursery.

Sunflower Growing

Pre-School: 1^st – Claremont House Nursery School.

Primary: 1^st – Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School. 2^nd – St Swithun’s C of E Primary Academy.

Secondary: 1^st – Elizabethan High School. 2^nd – Retford Oaks Academy.

The Most Improved School Garden Award 2025: St Swithun’s C of E Primary Academy.

The Maggie Battersby School Award and Inspired Garden Award 2024: Hallcroft Infant and Nursery School.

Pubs: 1^st – The Dominee Cross. 2^nd – The Brick and Tile. 3^rd=– The Idle Valley Tap and The Gate Inn.

Highly Commended: The King and Miller and The Turks Head.

Shop and Business Fronts: 1^st – Kings Coffee Shop. 2^nd – E. Hurton – Funeral Directors. 3^rd= – The Glass Lounge and Rondo Lounge.

Community Award:

Bassetlaw District Council Parks and Open Spaces Department – wonderful flower displays throughout Retford and for achieving the Green Flag Award for another year.
Pam Barnsdale for organising the planting of bulbs in the grassed area next to My Gym. A wonderful display of flowers greeted everyone in the Spring.
Sloswicke’s Almshouses – Union Street for creating a communal garden that involves residents in growing vegetables and flowers.
Bassetlaw Museum for the floral displays and the vegetable garden behind the Museum that are maintained by volunteers and staff giving freely of their time. A wonderful quiet space in the middle of town that can be enjoyed by the community.
Grove Street Methodist Church for the creation of a community garden adjacent to the Church. The flower garden can be seen and appreciated by the passing public. A vegetable plot is also maintained by a member of the Church.
Trinity Hospital Estates for the gardens in front of their properties on Bridgegate and Hospital Road and the beautiful hanging baskets that adorn Bridgegate.
Retford Bowls Club for the wonderful displays Shirley Pickersgill and members create and maintain. The flowers and hanging baskets are appreciated and enjoyed by members and visitors to the Club.
Heath Williams for maintaining his own and neighbour’s front garden that is appreciated by all who pass by. A ‘Big Thank You’ to everyone who takes part in Retford in Bloom and adds a ‘WOW’ factor to life in Retford!