RHS Britain in Bloom Judges welcomed to Coleraine as ‘Large Town Category’ is assessed for 2025 awards

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council have welcomed judges from RHS Britain in Bloom, as Coleraine was assessed for the 2025 awards, within the ‘Large Town Category’.

During the visit the judges were taken on a tour of the town, including a tour of where the Estates Team make their own compost and learning more about how sheep’s wool is being used sustainably to help floral displays in the Borough.

The group heard from Angela Lowry of Loreto College who gave an overview of how Council has supported the Loreto students to learn more about biodiversity and the work of the estates team.

Angela said: “Students and staff recently visited the Council Nursery in Coleraine. The visit gave them a deeper understanding of the horticultural practices involved in cultivating plants for the Borough's public spaces and they gained insights into the entire lifecycle of a plant.

“The group were particularly impressed by the sheer scale of the operation, including the logistical challenge of planting and maintaining numerous hanging baskets and bedding areas. We learned about the crucial processes of watering and feeding plants to ensure they thrive throughout the summer season.

“A significant part of the visit focused on sustainability. The students learned about Council's commitment to using recycled compost from their Letterloan recycling facility and the system for recycling plants and compost at the end of the season.

“Finally, the visit highlighted the diverse range of skills and qualifications held by the nursery staff. We were introduced to the various employment and apprenticeship opportunities offered by Council, which could be of great interest to our students.

“This experience has also provided a framework for creating new, inquiry-based learning opportunities for our students at school, allowing them to explore horticultural and entrepreneurial concepts in a hands-on way.”

The tour continued along wildflower meadow corridors in Coleraine, while the judges were treated to a special visit to ‘The Cornfield Project’ a community project really making a difference to people’s lives in the heart of the town. 

The project which receives assistance from Council’s Estates Team, offers something for everyone from bee keeping to wildflower meadows and polytunnels to sustainable use of food generated in their offsite café such as they free range eggs, the project is flourishing.

Billy Ellis, Millburn Community Development Ltd, who is one of several veterans working at and leading the project said: “It was an honour to welcome the judging panel from Britain in Bloom and members of the Causeway Coast & Glens Council to our Cornfield Project Site today, in support of the Council’s bid for this awards community impact section.

“Over the years, the Cornfield Project has delivered a wide range of activities for so many local people. We would not have been able to achieve this without the invaluable support of the Council.

“It was a pleasure to share our story and our journey so far, and to contribute to the Council’s bid for this prestigious award.”

To conclude the visit, the judges were given a tour of Coleraine town centre to see how street art and planting from local schools and Council staff works hand in hand to make the town centre more appealing. Including the recently added sensory and aromatic planter which demonstrates how herbs can be both useful for cookery, wildlife and also look attractive when used in the right setting.

The group also visited the Angel of Hope Garden, set up by Andrea McConaghy in August 2015 as an everlasting memorial to her daughter, Roma. Supported by Council, the garden is a very special place to remember and commemorate young lives lost in the Borough. A contemplative outdoor space were plants and memorial statues sit alongside a wall of stars to remember each life lost. 

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Cllr Oliver McMullan, who greeted the judges at the end of their visit said: “We are delighted to welcome the Britain in Bloom judges to Coleraine.

“As a previous winner of the large town category we are very proud of what Coleraine and indeed our whole Council area has to offer, from community projects and polytunnels to sensory gardens and cycle paths.

“I’d like to thank the Estates team, Angela Lowry from Loreto, the team at The Cornfield Project, and Jan O’Neill, Council’s Physical Regeneration Project Officer, who all took part in today’s visit. A special thank you also to all the primary schools in Coleraine who have once again made-up fantastic hanging basket displays with a little help from our Estates team!

“The very best of luck to all finalists in our category.”

The awards will take place on Friday 31st October 2025 and RHS Britain in Bloom judges Dale Hector and Ruth Growney added: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to be here today, and even though the weather hasn’t been entirely kind to us, we have really enjoyed our tour of Coleraine, thank you to everyone involved.”