London in Bloom 2024: Gold and more for Charlton House Gardens!

Only our second foray into the world of London in Bloom (part of RHS Britain in Bloom) and we have achieved a coveted Gold award!

Last year, we only entered the Walled Gardens category, but this year – since we now cover most areas of the whole estate – two categories were entered: the competitive “Our Community” and also the RHS “It’s Your Neighbourhood”.  Although these look for gardening excellence, they also cover community involvement.

The judges visited on a very hot day in mid June and had already been to several local gardens including Charlton Station and Orchard when they arrived at the gates of Charlton House. On reflection, it was a great idea to show them around the estate in reverse order – we did the Meadow and Wilderness, followed by the Glade and Long Garden, then finishing with the jewel that is the Walled Gardens. Following that route they saw the progression of work and Jason was able to explain his ideas for each different area.

They loved the Glade, with its mounds made of green waste and excess soil, demonstrating how nothing goes to waste and the creativity of making a flat area more interesting. Remember this?

The best words in the report were reserved for the Old Pond Garden – the judges report says “Jason, working with the volunteers, has restored the walled garden quite possibly to something that is better than the original walled garden.”  Wow! They go on to say ”Jason truly understands the secrets of good design and plant combinations, and makes an excellent Head Gardener. We see the harmony of working with volunteers, who have been able to put many of Jason’s thoughts, with his expert guidance, into reality.”  What an accolade!

Several volunteers went to the Awards ceremony, which this year was held at Hilltop, RHS Wisley. Sadly, Jason couldn’t join us due to other work commitments. We had a lovely morning to look around Wisley and see the new Piet Oudolf borders, then gathered at the Hilltop Centre.

We sat on tenterhooks (whilst eating a lot of cake) as all the gardens and names were read out in reverse order. So many prestigious gardens! Well, we are up there with the best of them! Overall, we were awarded 90 points out of 100, putting us firmly in “GOLD”.

Of the three sections in the marking schedule, we got an amazing 97% for Gardening Achievement (ie plant selection, maintenance, creativity, overcoming site difficulties and enhancing green spaces with planting).

We were given 90% for Community Participation (actions making a difference to local people, involving local people with planning, communication and implementation). All these plant sales and garden trails are making a difference! And 83% for Environmental Responsibility (conservation, composting, recycling, improving green spaces, sharing skills, litter, graffiti etc).

We also gained a Level 5: Outstanding for RHS ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’.

I must mention Charlton Community Gardens at the station and Charlton Community Orchard, as their representatives including Ruth and Lynda came with us. In addition to their Gold awards, the Orchard was awarded a National Certificate of Distinction, one of only 3 given in London. Well done!

Thanks must go to the RBG Greenwich Neighbourhood Growth Fund, which gave us the original funding and confidence to start this project, to the Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust (https://www.greenwichheritage.org/visit/) for their support and to Provender Nurseries (https://www.provendernurseries.co.uk/) who give us a great trade discount on many of our core plants.

As the ceremony was drawing to a close and I was busily messaging Jason with all the details of our Gold success, the 2024 Judges Award was announced. When our name was called out we all nearly fell off our chairs! But we pulled ourselves together and proudly collected this special prize on behalf of “Jason and the Gardenaughts”.

What on earth are we going to do next year?

Kathy A