BLOOMING marvellous! That was the verdict of the judges of this year’s Yorkshire in Bloom competition who awarded a string of top awards to Ryedale at last week’s presentation ceremony at Bridlington’s Spa Royal Hall.

Helmsley won a gold award and the honour for the large village category honour, while Kirkbymoorside was awarded a silver gilt and Pickering a silver.

In addition, Wold Newton won a silver gilt, and gold awards were given to Helmsley Walled Garden, Ryedale Folk Museum and Yorkshire Lavender in Terrington. The commercial award went to the Derwent Arms, Norton, and Kirkbymoorside County Primary School received a special award.

In addition, in the large villages section, Stamford Bridge won a silver gilt and Nafferton a silver, while there were awards of silver gilt to Folkton and Flixton, Newby and Scalby, and a gold for Cayton and Hunmanby. Scarborough won the top award in the silver gilt section.

As a result of their success in the competition, Scarborough, Cayton and Hunmanby each go into the Britain in Bloom competition next year.

Roger Burnett, of Swinton, chairman of the national team of Royal Horticultural Society judges and one of the co-presenters at the awards ceremony, said: “Ryedale and Scarborough area scored tremendously well in the Yorkshire competition. The standards everywhere were exceptional and a great deal of voluntary hard work was put into the entries.”

Of Helmsley, the judges said: “The floral displays are a credit to all concerned and make the town a picturesque venue for tourists. The high standard of maintenance throughout the year shows commitment from this dedicated team.”

Helmsley castle and walled gardens were given special mention.

Kirkbymoorside’s newly renovated roundabout was praised by the judges, as were the numerous tubs and floral features outside shops and houses. They praised teachers and pupils at the town’s primary school and the “well organised and committed Kirkby in Bloom group”.

Pickering was deemed clean and tidy, with many new planters, which, judges said, showed “real colour and vibrancy”. They urged the town’s In Bloom group to develop a five-year plan and get businesses and residents involved in taking forward aspirations.

The judges praised the town’s allotments, the planting by schoolchildren in Smiddy Hill and the many well-tended gardens in the town.