Blaenau Gwent is celebrating success at the 2026 Wales in Bloom Awards, with local communities, schools and businesses recognised for their work to brighten neighbourhoods and care for green spaces. Abertillery and Llanhilleth Community Council and Six Bells village were among the Gold award recipients, while Bishop Street Allotments and St. Michael's Church in Abertillery each won Gold in their category titles.
While gardeners often reflect on a season of rain or cold weather, 2026 presented a very different challenge. One of the hottest and driest summers on record saw volunteers spending much of the season watering and caring for displays to ensure plants and green spaces continued to thrive. Their dedication was rewarded with an abundance of colourful floral displays, environmental projects and community initiatives that impressed judges throughout Wales.
The 2026 Wales in Bloom Awards ceremony was held at Talgarth Town Hall.
Peter Barton Price, Chair of Wales in Bloom, praised the efforts of entrants across Wales. He said: "We are delighted to see continued growth in both our main Wales in Bloom campaign and the RHS It's Your Neighbourhood initiative.”
Growing success for It's Your Neighbourhood
The RHS It's Your Neighbourhood initiative continues to provide a valuable pathway into the Wales in Bloom campaign, encouraging communities of all sizes to improve and care for their local environments.
`It’s Your Neighbourhood’ Blaenau Gwent results
Outstanding:
Sirhowy Hill Woodlands Community Garden, Tredegar
Sirhowy Hill Woodlands, Tredegar
Abertillery Park
Pentref Tyleri, Abertillery
The Vicarage, Abertillery
Thriving:
Friends of Bedwellty Park Society, Tredegar
Six Bells Park, Abertillery
Bedwellty House Kitchen Garden Volunteers, Tredegar
Bedwellty House Grounds Volunteers, Tredegar
Aberbeeg Community Centre, Abertillery
Ebbw Fach Community Group, Abertillery
Steve Brooks Garden, Abertillery
Hafod y Dafal Farm, Ebbw Vale
Ralph Henderson Garden, Abertillery
South End Community Allotments, Tredegar
Advancing:
Blaenau Gwent Baptist Church, Abertillery
Grannies Wood, Llanhilleth
Cardiff Ponds, Ebbw Vale
Main Competition Awards for Blaenau Gwent
Town Category
Abertillery & Llanhilleth Community Council achieved the Gold Award.
Chair, Cllr Lucy Harmer commented: “It has been my absolute pleasure to be part of this fantastic project. It has brought together and connected many of our already thriving community groups with a shared purpose. The community council is proud to champion and support this project. Our success in this year’s entry is a testament to the dedication and hard work of all involved, reflected in a truly well-deserved result.
“Many sites in and around Abertillery have been improved, providing a much-needed boost to our communities and helping to foster a sense of pride and belonging. I very much look forward to getting the project underway for next year. Please watch for details of our official launch in January. We look forward to seeing you all there.”
Hotel Frontage Display
This category saw The Six Bells Hotel, Abertillery winning Silver Gilt and Ty Ebbw Fach / Clos Cwtch taking Silver.
Public Buildings
This highly contested award saw Llanhilleth Institute taking Gold while St. Michael's Church, Abertillery received Gold.
St Michael's Church said: “Our garden and tree nursery helps volunteers learn about horticulture, nature, and traditional crafts. We grow food for local food banks but most importantly we make friends and it is so good for our physical and mental wellbeing.”
Allotments
In the Allotments (10 Plots and Under) category, Bishop Street Allotments, Abertillery, achieved Gold and secured first place.
Schools Category
The Wales in Bloom Schools Category recognises achievement at five levels: Beginning, Budding, Branching, Blossoming and Blooming.
The highest level, Blooming, was awarded to Six Bells Primary Campus, with Abertillery Learning Community as a whole achieving Level 4 – Blossoming.
Tracey Jarvis, Head at Abertillery Learning Community said:
“Over the past year, we have partnered with the Abertillery Aspiration Group for the Abertillery Wales in Bloom town competition. Leading up to the summer judging, pupils and staff across all four campuses worked hard weeding, digging, and planting to ensure the grounds looked their best.
“Our caretaker at the Six Bells campus, Lyndon Evans, attended the awards ceremony in Talgarth, Powys, where we were thrilled to have earned the Wales in Bloom Level 5 Award for the campus, and to celebrate Lyndon, who received the prestigious ‘Champion Award’ in recognition of the extra time and dedication he personally volunteered toward the effort.”
Community Champions and Special Awards
Wales in Bloom is proud to recognise those individuals and groups who go above and beyond to make a lasting difference to their communities and local Bloom entries.
This year's Community Champion Certificates were awarded to:
Lyndon Evans - Six Bells Primary Campus. Lyndon said: “It is lovely to be recognised but my reward is learning about flowers, working in the community and seeing the difference it makes.”
Norman Stewart Award
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the prestigious Norman Stewart Award, which is awarded annually to an individual or group that has made an outstanding contribution to Wales in Bloom and their local community.
This year's award was presented to Ralph Henderson MBE and the Abertillery Aspiration Group.
Abertillery Aspirations commented: “We are delighted to receive this award on behalf of our whole community."
Bishop street Allotments were delighted to receive Gold and, overwhelmed when presented with Category winner Wales in Bloom 2026
Large Village Category
This category saw Six Bells Village achieve the Gold award.
The judges said: ‘It is always a delight to judge this category and see the hard work and commitment that takes place throughout the year.”
Cllr Jules Gardner, Cabinet Member for Adult and Communities sat Blaenau Gwent Council said:
"This is blooming marvellous for Blaenau Gwent! Thank you so much to everyone involved for your hard work and to everyone out in our communities who give their own time to look after the areas in which they live and bring pride to our wonderful county borough."
