Wellesbourne’s silver award for flowers...and enthusiasm!

Jennifer Wharton (centre) used to work as a landscape officer in Oxfordshire and is currently in charge of monitoring street-scene contracts for Stratford District Council.

The busy mum-of-two, who only moved to Wellesbourne in 2010, was sorry that the village couldn’t make its usual entry into the regional part of the national competition last year. This was due to the ill-health of successful former chairwoman Heather Simms who had to resign along with her committee.

Jennifer said: “There was nobody who seemed to feel confident enough to take over as chairman but as I’m used to Britain in Bloom from my previous job, it was perhaps less intimidating for me and so I was asked to take it on and find a new committee.

“I think it was our enthusiasm which swung it with the judges. The village centre, our pre-school and allotments all helped us gain extra points.”

Wellesbourne is a village but because of its large population it has to compete in the small town category.

Jennifer is now inviting everyone to an “Ideas” evening” on October 24. For more details email her on [email protected]