BEMBRIDGE CELBRATES AWARD SUCCESS
At the recent Best Kept Village Awards 2026, Bembridge was thrilled to walk away with the honour of being crowned as Best Kept Extra Large Village. Just over a week later, Bembridge also scooped up a number of awards at the prestigious RHS South and Southeast in Bloom Awards held at RHS Wisley, including an overall category win for the War Memorial Garden which was named Best Small Park 2026.
Parish Council Chair Councillor Martin Groom said – ‘These awards are a great achievement for the village. Bembridge has a brilliant community atmosphere, and it is the whole community that came together to make the village stand out this year.
It was a challenging Summer with the heat, and we will have to change our choice of plants to make them more resilient and sustainable for future years.
This is a fantastic result for everybody who has worked so hard in a very difficult season. Bembridge is punching well above its weight, and the whole village should be rightly proud’.
In addition to the Gold and overall category success for the War Memorial Garden, at the South and Southeast in Bloom Awards Bembridge also picked up a Silver Award for the Community Gardeners in the Community Engagement category, a Silver Gilt for both Lane End Cemetery and the Parish as a whole, and another Gold for St Luke’s Churchyard.
Bembridge IoW Councillor Mark Rochell said – ‘This is great recognition for the incredible effort put in by both the Parish Council and local volunteers. Special thanks must go to Debbie Glover, the Community Gardeners (past and present), Men in Sheds and Andy Bennett and the gardening team at Bembridge Coast Hotel for all their help and advice.’
Bembridge PC Representatives celebrate their recent award wins.