IMPROVEMENTS being carried out to help Newquay become a year-round holiday destination have been showed off as part of the town’s entry in a prestigious competition.

A contingent from Newquay in Bloom gave South West in Bloom Awards judge Tim Eley a tour of the town onboard the Newquay Lions minibus to see the various projects.

Mr Eley being shown some of the planting schemes in Trenance Gardens (Picture: Warren Wilkins)
Mr Eley being shown some of the planting schemes in Trenance Gardens (Picture: Warren Wilkins)

The tour started at Hendra Holiday Park to view the floral displays before making its way to the Gannel car park where Mr Eley met Abby Wheston from Newquay Marine Group to hear about the work the organisation is undertaking.

The next stop was Fistral Beach, Towan Headland and the Huer’s Hut before stopping to see the WI mural on Manor Road. Mr Eley met with Newquay BID manager Mark Warren to discuss its town enhancement projects such as the murals and the shopfront scheme.

The contingent next visited the Killacourt to view the sensory garden and the new Surfer of the South statue before travelling to Newquay Library to have a look at the living library garden. Mr Eley also met with Dinard Twinning Association chairman Janet Rowlands to discuss Newquay’s links with its twin town in France.

Mr Eley was then taken to meet Louise Burge and Phil Mankee from Great Western Railway to discuss the Mid Cornwall Metro Scheme before visiting the Barrowfields to see the Monolith project, the extension to the cycle path and the bus stop mural.

The next stop for the minibus was to travel along Hilgrove Road to view the urban tree planting project.

The final stop on the tour was to visit the Rose Garden and Trenance Gardens where Mr Eley met Teresa Buzza and Stuart Lutherborrow of Cormac to discuss the planting schemes. They were greeted by a performance by Oll an Gwella.

Mr Eley being shown the planting schemes in the Rose Garden (Picture: Warren Wilkins)
Mr Eley being shown the planting schemes in the Rose Garden (Picture: Warren Wilkins)

Newquay in Bloom now face an anxious few weeks to find out how the town has fared in the South West in Bloom competition. Newquay is going for gold in the St Bridget Cup for towns with a population of over 17,000 people, which includes Newton Abbot, Barnstaple, and Westbury.

Mr Eley said: “I have judged Newquay at least three times and its great to see all the improvements in the town.

“The town was really vibrant with lots of people around. I particularly like the different murals and the work Newquay BID is putting in to enhance the town.

“I’m also especially impressed with the Newquay Shopfront Scheme and the improvements at Newquay Railway Station, which has made a difference to the town centre.

“I’m also impressed by the floral displays at the Griffin Inn.”

Mr Eley being given a tour of the Rose Garden by Teresa Buzza from Cormac (Picture: Warren Wilkins)
Mr Eley being given a tour of the Rose Garden by Teresa Buzza from Cormac (Picture: Warren Wilkins)

Lesley Friel, the chairperson of Newquay in Bloom said: “I think the judging went very well.

“It has involved a lot of work, but the town was looking lovely and the sunshine added a bit of extra sparkle.

“Hopefully we have done enough to get gold again. We don’t enter the competition for us. It’s for the town. It demonstrates what is going on in the town. Planting is only a part of it.”