The champions of Britain’s annual nationwide gardening competition have been announced for 2026.
Britain in Bloom, which has been running since 1964 and organised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) since 2002, celebrates communities across the UK using gardening to make positive changes to their local environment. Those taking part have access to the RHS's expert advice, plus valuable support and networking and funding opportunities.
This year's winning community stands out from the competition, according to judges, as it has an unusual self-designated community arboretum, encompassing every tree within the town's boundaries – whether on private or public land.
Every resident has taken on the role of 'tree custodian' for the collection of around 150 species growing there, including climate-resilient London plane, Tibetan cherry and swamp cypress trees.
The winning community is the Cotswold town of Stonehouse in Gloucestershire, which has a long history protecting its local woodland and trees. It has also overseen local government adoption of its Community Arboretum Management Plan, which supports the goal of achieving tree canopy coverage of 30 per cent by 2040.
Stonehouse also has a target of seeing at least 95 per cent of newly planted trees reach maturity, and so locals are encouraged to act as tree guardians, watering them as they establish. Residents have even planted cuttings from the town's famous weeping Globe Willow, planted in 1921, in their own gardens, after it was damaged by a storm in 2024.
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Residents impressed the judges with a boat trip along the canal, showcasing its importance as a wildlife corridor, as well as their efforts in restoring Stonehouse's identity as a historic canal town. The gardening team have also adjusted planting combinations throughout the town according to their exposure to wind and sun. They showed the judges dry beds filled with agapanthus, Mexican fleabane and lavender.
Stonehouse surpassed 43 other groups in the Britain in Bloom UK finals, securing an RHS Gold and winning in the Small Town category, before being named overall winner.
There is a noticeable theme of caring for trees across other communities in the UK finals too. With the help of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Rugby in Bloom secured over 5,000 trees for 25 farmers across the region, saving and creating a combined 810 metres of hedgerow. They also introduced a community orchard with 60 new fruit trees, including quince, apple, pear and local heritage varieties of stone fruits.
In other categories of the Britain in Bloom competition, North Berwick (which won in Coastal) is responding to stormy conditions by planting Maram grass into the sand dunes to reduce erosion. In the Small City & City category, winners Wrexham in Bloom have filled 41,000 litter picking bags since 2021, and installed 1,125 hedgehog boxes, plus swift boxes made using recycled wood.
Other winners include Truro (Large Town), Bosworth (Large Village), Henley (Town), Rochdale (Town & City Centres) and Fletching (Village).
