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Tiverton Canal wins Britain in Bloom award

The Grand Western Canal Country Park has topped off its bicentenary year by winning a prestigious award for Parks and Open Spaces.

The Canal Country Park, which is managed by Devon County Council, has been presented with a Silver-Gilt award at the Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom South West Awards 2014.

The Country Park category of the RHS Parks and Open Spaces is a new award scheme for this year and the award considers community involvement of fundraising, events programmes and site development; as well as the management of the park, including standards of maintenance, interpretation, cleanliness, and condition of structures and buildings.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council Cabinet member for Environment and Communities, said: “This award caps off an extremely successful bicentenary year for the Canal. It is well deserved recognition for all the hard work made by staff, volunteers, work experience students, contractors and the Friends of the Grand Western Canal that all help to support and maintain the Country Park and Local Nature Reserve for everyone to enjoy.”

Councillor Ray Radford, Chairman of the canal’s Joint Advisory Committee and Devon County Councillor for Willand and Uffculme, said: “Our canal has been presented with a Silver Gilt award, which is not given lightly; it has been won by the great efforts of all the staff and volunteers who have made all this possible in making our Country Park a delight for all our visitors. It is a really nice place to see, particularly the eastern end which gets you out into the real country. This award now finishes off the centenary year, which has seen much action - all the more reason to give us a visit.”

Mid Devon Councillor Kevin Wilson, Vice Chairman of the canal’s Joint Advisory Committee, said: “This is an opportunity to thank the unsung heroes of the canal by dedicating the award to them. From the rangers to unpaid volunteers - those exceptional individuals who turn up no matter what the weather to make the canal environment so lovely for us all to enjoy.”

Councillor Des Hannon, County Councillor for Tiverton East, said: “We all know our Canal’s Blooming marvellous but it’s great to have it confirmed by independent judges. Fabulous news.”

The Grand Western Canal’s 200th anniversary year has seen the re-opening of the section of the canal at Halberton, which suffered a serious breach in November 2012. The bicentenary was marked by the Canal hosting the Inland Waterways Association’s National Trailboat Festival in May. The Grand Western Canal Country Park also won the Green Flag Award from environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy for the sixth consecutive year.

The Britain in Bloom judging took place in July. The Silver-Gilt award was presented recently to Canal Ranger Joanne Roberts by RHS Judge John Noble and Mayor of Tiverton Councillor Sue Griggs.