Last year Richmond was selected to be part of this year’s BBC2 Britain In Bloom television series.

The market town entered the competition in the Grow Your Community section of the Yorkshire In Bloom region. This was the first time of entering the prestigious competition, which is supported by the Royal Horticultural Society and is aimed at encouraging gardeners, towns and villages to make their places more attractive and environmentally friendly by working together as a community.

In order to be considered for the programme the Original Richmond In Bloom team members had to present three new, major projects to the television producers. Sites were identified at the Gas Holder Garden near the town’s waterfall; the old orchard off Park Wynd that had belonged to a mill by the River Swale and work at local charity, Just the Job Environmental Enterprises.

The production company making the programme, Electric Ray, followed the group of volunteers as they cleared and transformed the two neglected sites. Just the Job got to work on filling the town’s containers with flowers and transforming their own land into a flourishing allotment.

Chris Bavin, who hosts the programme, paid two visits to the town to see the projects before and after and to talk to members of the groups carrying out the work.

In addition to the projects around the town, filming also took place at Millgate House Gardens, home of Austin Lynch and Tim Culkin; York House, which is owned and run by Christine Swift, King Street Kitchen and Gift – owned and run by Alyson Swift and Mr. Yorke’s Walled Garden, home of Dennis and Marcia McLuckie.

Marcia McLuckie, Chair of the Original Richmond Business and Tourism Association, which organised the In Bloom entry is enthusiastic about the programme, “Our entry in Yorkshire In Bloom really brought the community of Richmond together and attracted a good deal of publicity. This half-hour television programme is the icing on the cake; brilliant national coverage for Richmond.” Marcia continued, “Working with Chris Bavin and the production company was interesting as well as fun and I felt all their team really appreciated what a beautiful place Richmond is”.

The Original Richmond Business and Tourism Association entered Yorkshire In Bloom to raise the profile of the town and its businesses as a beautiful place to live and visit. This year they are upping their game and have entered the category of town. If they achieve gold, who knows, but Richmond might go through to the national Britain in Bloom competition.

Britain in Bloom Richmond will be broadcast on Tuesday 2nd April at 6.30pm on BBC2.