IT’S official – Wareham is blooming marvellous!
The town has been crowned the best small town in the South and South East region in the South and South East In Bloom (SSEIB) competition.
The competition, which is the largest horticultural contest in the region, involves hundreds of communities each year.

Floral displays have earned Wareham the title of best small town. PHOTOS: Wareham Community Growers

Participants create lasting improvements to their local environment for the benefit of all those who live in, work in or visit the area.
SSEIB’s annual regional competition focuses on the themes of horticulture, environment and community and Wareham was judged in July by John Lockwood.
The town’s entry was prepared by the Wareham Community Growers (WCG), successor to the former Wareham in Bloom Committee.
The group was delighted to learn at the awards ceremony in Farnham that Wareham had beaten six other towns in the ‘Small Town’ category to gain a coveted Gold and Regional Winner award.
“This is a superb result in just 16 months of the group’s existence,” said Rod Curtis, chair of WGC.
Wareham was also judged in the ‘Churchyard of the Year’ competition at Lady St Mary Cemetery, winning a superb Gold, and a coveted ‘Thriving’ award in the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ section for the Friends of Wareham Railway Station.
“Wareham Community Growers gratefully acknowledges the work of Wareham Town Council and its staff in providing magnificent town centre floral displays, and all those who provide their own displays for all to enjoy including residents, businesses and community projects,” Mr Curtis told the Gazette.
“Well done Wareham.”
A local ‘In Bloom’ competition has also been organised for residents and businesses by the WCG.
Winners of the awards will be published in the coming weeks.

SSEIB judge John Lockwood with town crier Jacquie Hall. PHOTOS: Wareham Community Growers