Spalding station has been awarded silver in the inaugural East Midlands in Bloom category for transport hubs, recognising the work carried out by the Friends of Spalding Station. Long Sutton in Bloom also received a silver award in the small-town category, giving two South Holland volunteer groups cause to celebrate.
The competition results were announced during the week before September 30, 2026. The awards came after what the report described as a record-breaking hot summer, which created difficult conditions for garden groups and coincided with a hosepipe ban.
Spalding station recognised in new category
Spalding station entered the new transport-hub category for the first time and received a silver award. Judges praised the appearance of the station’s outside areas, particularly the hanging baskets used to add colour around the site.
The judging report said the station was attractively decorated with numerous hanging baskets containing predominantly pink, yellow and red trailing begonias. It also considered the planted areas alongside Platform 2, where maintaining the displays proved more difficult.
A lack of water was identified as one of the challenges affecting the Platform 2 planting. The judges acknowledged that significant efforts were being made, while adding that the summer weather had not helped. The conditions made the station’s silver result a notable achievement for the volunteers responsible for its displays.
Long Sutton continues medal-winning record
Long Sutton in Bloom continued its tradition of receiving medals, securing silver in the small-town category after being judged on July 6. The judges also gave their award to the town’s Rainbow Nursery.
Rainbow Nursery was recognised for what the report called its inspiring methods of teaching children about the origin of their food. The judges said Long Sutton in Bloom had been beautifying the town for a number of years and highlighted the strength of its year-round activity.
Kay Jenkinson, a founding member and leading figure in Long Sutton in Bloom, was given particular recognition for 35 years of unbroken service. The judges said her long-standing dedication to the community should be highly commended.
The work of the Men’s Shed was also mentioned. Its members have created and maintained planters and looked after Long Sutton’s signs, adding to the wider effort to improve the town’s appearance.
The current Long Sutton in Bloom team consists of 24 people. The judges said the town’s community spirit, enthusiasm and sustained effort demonstrated how residents had continued to come together over several decades to enhance the place where they live.
The two silver awards recognise separate volunteer efforts across South Holland: Spalding station achieved a medal in the first year of a dedicated transport-hub category, while Long Sutton maintained its record of success despite the exceptionally demanding growing conditions.