Judges from the annual Anglia in Bloom competition visited Whittlesey and Wisbech on Tuesday.

Cambs Times: A new interpretation board was unveiled at the Garden of Rest as part of the judges' visit.A new interpretation board was unveiled at the Garden of Rest as part of the judges' visit. (Image: Archant)

Wisbech is looking to make it seven golds in a row in the large town category, while Whittlesey is aiming to improve on last year’s silver award for towns with 6,001-12,000 residents.

During a three hour tour of Whittlesey, Anglia in Bloom judges Nigel Bloxham and Margaret Albinson visited a wide range of sites.

One of their stopping points was the Garden of Rest, where they presided over the official opening of a new interpretation board. The garden has undergone a three-year restoration.

They also inspected a number of projects undertaken by the local Street Pride group, including the Plough on Plough Road.

Chairman of Anglia in Bloom, Bob Ollier said: “Both judges were impressed with all the bloom projects they visited.

“They commented on the three-year restoration of the Garden of Rest and were pleased to officially open the new Interpretation board, but gave a general thumbs up to all the areas they visited around Whittlesey.”

The judges had an equally busy schedule when they visited Wisbech.

They started at Octavia Hill’s Birthplace House and Centenary Green then were shown a garden done by volunteers at the Octavia View homeless hostel, a bee and butterfly garden at the entrance of Somers Road car park, hanging baskets at The Crescent and St Peter’s Church Gardens.

The tour also took in a stroll down the high street, which was led by Wisbech councillor David Oliver.

Organiser Penny Stocks said: “We’ve worked very hard so if we don’t get another gold we will be very disappointed.”

This year’s awards will be announced at a ceremony on September 9 at the Ocean Rooms in Gorleston, in Norfolk.

On Wednesday, it will be the turn of Britain in Bloom judges Darren Share and Jon Wheatley to visit Wisbech, which is up against towns including Truro and Perth in the large town category.