1989 – Ken Kent, a local businessman and chairman of the Farnham Visitors’ Council, came up with the idea of Farnham in Bloom. His vision was simple: he said he ‘wanted to make Farnham a beautiful place for all by bringing flowers into the town’.
1990 – The project was adopted by local resident and national judge of flower arranging Madge Green. She initially recruited five other women to form a voluntary working group, which later expanded to 13 people. The group worked alongside Farnham Town Council, local businesses and voluntary organisations.
Each member of the voluntary working group played a role in making Farnham a beautiful town to live, work and visit. Some were responsible for litter picking, others for dead-heading plants and some for removing graffiti.
Every year, the working group adopted a different theme and their keen eye for floral arrangements gave the edge to Farnham’s displays.
Over 15 years, Farnham in Bloom won numerous awards. The list of achievements included awards from South East in Bloom, a special mention in the Queen Mother’s birthday awards and a nomination to represent South East in Bloom.
2005 – After 15 years of shimmying up ladders, the working group decided to hang up their gardening gloves and handed over to Farnham Town Council.
2008 – Farnham Town Council entered Farnham town centre into South and South East in Bloom for the first time.
2011 – Farnham Town Council entered the Large Town category.
2014 – Farnham was invited to enter Britain in Bloom.
2015 – Farnham in Bloom celebrated its silver anniversary.
2017 – Farnham achieves its first ever Gold Award at RHS Britain in Bloom. Madge Green sadly passes away at the beginning of the year.
2018 – Farnham wins the highest number of awards at regional level including ‘Best in County – Surrey’ and a discretionary Biodiversity Award.
2019 – Farnham in Bloom is invited to enter Britain in Bloom in a new category: Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), town and city centres.
2020 – Farnham in Bloom turns 30!
Farnham in Bloom’s achievements
Town Centre category
2008 – Gold award and Regional category winner
2009 – Silver Gilt award, the Regional Chairman’s award, a Community award and a School award
2010 – Silver Gilt award
2011 – Gold award and Regional category winner
2012 – Gold award and Regional category winner
2013 – Gold award and Regional category winner
2014 – Gold Award
2015 – Gold award and Regional category winner
2016 – Gold award and Regional category winner
2017 – Gold Award
2018 – Gold Award
2019 – Gold Award and Regional category winner. Britain in Bloom Gold Award and national Best in Category winner
Large Town category
2011 – Silver Gilt award
2012 – Gold award
2013 – Gold award and Regional category winner
2014 – Gold award and Regional category winner. Britain in Bloom Silver Gilt Award
2015 – Gold award and Regional category winner
2016 – Gold award, Regional category winner and Best in County Award. Britain in Bloom Silver Gilt Award
2017 – Gold award, Best in County Award. Britain in Bloom Gold Award and joint national Best in Category winner
2018 – Gold Award, Regional category winner, and Best in County Award
2019 – Gold Award and Regional category winner
