VILLAGERS in East Hagbourne say they have done everything they can to win Britain in Bloom.

Residents and members of the bloom competition committee did a last minute tidy up of the village ahead of an inspection by judges Jeff Bates and Jon Wheatley.

East Hagbourne has made the final of the competition’s Large Village section and the judges were given a tour of its key areas by adults and schoolchildren on Thursday.

The whole tour of the village took about an hour and a half.

Judges were not only looking for colourful flowers, but community involvement and sustainable planting.

Jeff Bates, one of the judges, said: “It was the most beautiful village. It sits gorgeously.

“Its history is central to the whole place and is set off by the architecture and paths.

“There are lots of good things happening in the community. It’s obvious the whole community has worked together in harmony for Bloom.”

One of the tour guides, Charlie Warrington, of Church Close, said: “There was nothing more we could have done. I think everyone had done as much as they could to impress the judges.

“I think they were impressed with the whole spirit of the village and the fact that all the villagers worked as a team and put an awful lot of effort in to this competition.

“They said they were particularly impressed with the peacefulness of the area – and commented they could hear bird song.”

It is the first time that East Hagbourne has been a finalist in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom competition.

The competition is one of the largest horticultural contests in Europe, with more than 1,000 communities taking part.

The judges’ tour started with a 15-minute presentation from parish councillor Roger Emery at Hagbourne C of E Primary School.

He set the scene ahead of primary school pupils Jono Suter, Elliott Crook and Melissa Shepherd, taking them around the school and its sensory garden.

Mrs Warrington and fellow villager Jenny Smith, of Higgs Close, then walked with the judges around the allotments at Tudor House, a number of residents’ gardens, Hagbourne community shop, St Andrew’s Church and Wild Flower Meadow.

Mrs Warrington, 41, said: “I think it went well. They were very enthusiastic about the children and asked them lots of questions. We will just have to keep our fingers crossed.”

East Hagbourne is one of nine finalists in Britain in Bloom’s Large Village category.

Its rivals are Barwick in Elmet, Yorkshire, Broughshane in Northern Ireland, Kinneswood in Scotland, Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria, Limpsfield in Surrey, St Andrews in Guernsey, Usk in Wales and Wedmore in Somerset.

Volunteers have spent since March sprucing up the whole village.

Local businesses and professional gardeners have donated plants and time ahead of judging day.

The winning village will be announced on September 23.

hcover@oxfordmail.co.uk