Rawdon in Bloom announced as a Britain in Bloom 2025 UK finalist
The competition will see 44 finalists selected from across the UK, compete to be crowned winner in one of the eight categories, and secure an RHS Gold, Silver Gilt, Silver or Bronze award.
One of the category winners will then go on to be named Britain in Bloom Overall Winner for 2025.
Rawdon in Bloom is a finalist in the Small Town category and will compete against Conwy in Bloom, Garstang in Bloom, Kingsbridge in Bloom, Stony Stratford in Bloom, Uppingham and Whitchurch in Bloom.
The community gardening groups are looking to impress the judges with their efforts to improve their local area. Each group will be judged against criteria with the environment, community engagement and horticulture at their core.
Pak Ling Wan, RHS Community Programme Manager, said: 'Across the UK, groups are enjoying the benefits gardening brings both to their local communities and their own wellbeing. They are making a real difference to the places we live, making them more welcoming to all, tackling environmental issues and engaging people in their activities that positively impacts the wider community.'
The news has been met with great excitement amongst Rawdon in Bloom volunteers, who are eagerly looking forward to the challenge of participation in the competition. Judging will take place over the first two weeks in August 2025.
Phil Gomersall, Vice-chair, Rawdon in Bloom said: "The group is quite unique as it attempts to grow in house the vast majority of plants it plants out from seeds and plugs and aims to work in an ethically and environmentally way as possible.
"The group also raises funds at various events in the village to help with the running costs of creating and maintaining planters and growing beds.
"It is intended to expand on the number of planters and growing sites around the village this year. If you think you could offer any help to the group in its endeavours, contact kmduckels@gmail.com or rawdonrib@gmail.com. No experience required just a willingness to help and some gardening gloves."
Rawdon in Bloom can be followed on FB and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
Opinion: A generation plugged in, tuned out
At just nine years old, a child today can hold the world in their hands – yet lose touch with the one around them. For much of Generation Z, this is a reality. Like many kids, I got my first phone not because I needed one, but because peer pressure made it feel like I'd be left behind without it. After countless months of begging my parents, they bought me my first phone. With a brand new iPhone 7 in hand, I felt like I had unlocked the rite of passage. However, once I downloaded popular social media apps – Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok – my life turned around. Social media exposed me to conversations that I wasn't ready for. There comes a point in a child's life when they start to become subject to peer pressure. According to Children's Health , peer pressure begins as early as age ten with the formation of friend groups in elementary school. Peer pressure can come in many different shapes and sizes: what you wear, how you act, and now, whether you own a phone. When it comes to peer pressure caused by phones, it more specifically goes under the category of ' social conformity . ' Social conformity is the tendency for one to adjust their thoughts, beliefs, or lifestyle to align with those in a group or a social norm. The tendency for children or teenagers to succumb to social conformity is becoming more and more prevalent in this day and age. Social media is dangerous. While it isn't physically dangerous, social media has created a culture of comparison and hate speech. According to the Anti-Defamation League's annual survey , up to 22% of Americans reported experiencing hate speech online. For children and teens, especially, this can be harmful. The harm is rooted in a child's maturity level. Now more than ever, before children develop proper emotional and psychological tools, they are shown explicit and harmful content. Instead of connecting and building confidence, kids often find themselves isolated and insecure. In fact, a survey conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health questioned 14-24-year-olds on how UK social media has impacted their health. The results revealed that Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all led to increased feelings of depression, anxiety, poor body image, and loneliness. As social media platforms continue to shape young minds, it's important to make a change. While it's nearly impossible to disconnect children from social media completely, we can reform these platforms from within. Now, more than ever, it's crucial to enforce extra precautions through stricter content moderation, promoting digital literacy, and holding platforms accountable for the harmful environments they create. Together, we must aim to create a space that fosters well-being and connection rather than harm and isolation. Related
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Dad With Two Toddlers Sends Off for DNA Test, Results 'Shattered My World'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A man's world was turned upside when he discovered that he wasn't the biological father to his sons. Jay Skibbens, from Illinois, already had a sinking feeling when he mailed off two DNA kits. His sons were 15 months and 30 months old, and he suspected he wasn't their biological father. "Finding out … completely shattered me," Skibbens, 37, told Newsweek. "It also broke into a million pieces the definition I had of being a dad. I really questioned whether I was a dad anymore." From left: Jay Skibbens reaches out his arms to help his young son from a rock face; and embraces him. From left: Jay Skibbens reaches out his arms to help his young son from a rock face; and embraces him. @jayskibbens Initially, he didn't process the news well. "Anger was the first big emotion to come out," he said. For a year, he directed that rage toward their boys' mother. But the turning point came when Skibbens realized the anger was eating away at him, not her. "I was angry because I had put myself in a position where this could happen," he said. "I had only been making decisions out of my wounds, trying to get her to choose me because, if I could get her to choose me, then I'd feel better about myself. So I learned how to feel better about myself, regardless of what she or other people were doing." Telling his sons the truth was a careful process. Skibbens waited until they were old enough to understand and ensured their mother was ready to answer questions. And as someone who also didn't know his biological dad, it created a unique bond between the three of them. "I don't have a model for fatherhood that I grew up with. It's just something that impacts all three of us, by pretty much allowing nothing to be off the table," Skibbens said. Over time, he rebuilt a relationship with his co-parent. Today, with his sons now 9 and 11, he is their primary parent. Letting go of biology as the measure of fatherhood gave Skibbens an unexpected gift. "I've literally been able to create from a blank canvas," he said. "And that's the ultimate freedom, while, at the same time, it has required me to decide for myself each step of the way whether what I was doing was right or enough." Now, as a life coach to co-parents, Skibbens shared his advice that he often tells clients. "Immediacy is the enemy. You don't have to respond right away to pretty much anything. Even though it might feel like an impulse or you might feel pressure to answer or defend, nothing requires a response before you process your emotions," he said. Skibbens' posted four lessons he learned after the DNA test results in a reel on Instagram, which has amassed over 895,000 views and hundreds of comments. The post sparked three main reactions: admiration for his accountability; affirmation that fatherhood goes beyond blood; and criticism from some men who saw his choice as weakness. But Skibbens remains undeterred. "I used to think that my coparent's choices ruined my life," he said. "But I truly believe now that her choices helped set me on the path that I was always meant to be on."
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Hearts Melt Over How One Pup Brought Into Litter Is 'Not Like the Others'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The internet has fallen head over paws for a puppy who looks a bit different from the rest of the litter. Jen Francis of Eagleridge Goldens in Florida told Newsweek via email that one of her dogs had a singleton pup. This means a litter of only one puppy. While a one-pup litter is not inherently bad, it does present its fair share of challenges. The mothers of a singleton pup may either overproduce milk or under-lactate, an article from Revival Animal Health said. Plus, the single puppy will not have the support of littermates during nursing, which causes them to use extra energy to latch and stay warm. These pups might also experience behavioral issues, including the risk of being spoiled and poor socialization. Knowing these possibilities, Francis always incorporates the single puppy into another litter. She recently did this with a singleton named Winston. And while Winston joined another litter of golden retrievers, Francis noticed he was "not like the others" despite being the same dog breed. Screenshots from a June 11 Instagram video of a breeder asking people to spot the odd puppy out in a litter of golden retrievers. Screenshots from a June 11 Instagram video of a breeder asking people to spot the odd puppy out in a litter of golden retrievers. @eagleridgegoldens/Instagram In a June 11 Instagram video, posted to the account @eagleridgegoldens, Francis zoomed in on the puppies, hoping viewers could spot the odd pup out. Winston's much larger and chunkier head was impossible to miss, earning himself the nickname of "Chooch." Thankfully, Winston didn't seem to mind his bigger size. He threw himself right into the mix. He loved being surrounded by all the other puppies. Francis said Winston joined the other litter when they were about 4 weeks old, right around the time they started eating mush and began weaning off their mother. "We never leave the pups alone so whenever we took mama out, we would put him in with them," she said. She added that it is easy to introduce a singleton pup to another litter. Because of their young age, they adapt quickly. They all play, eat and nap together. Winston wasted no time in getting to know his step-siblings, joining the "puppy puddle" snuggle session. As of Friday, the Instagram video reached over 1.5 million views, as people obsessed over Winston. "Ohhh I am dyyying !! He's the most adorable fluffy potato chonk," commented one viewer. Another added: "They're so darn cute!" But despite the size difference now, Francis shared in the caption that all these golden retrievers will be about the same size as adults: Males reach about 65 to 75 pounds, while females are a bit smaller at 55 to 65 pounds. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
