As a sponsor of Wales in Bloom, the Wales Tourist Board is delighted to announce the winners of the 2003 competition. The award ceremony takes place on Friday 17 September, 12 noon at Glen yr Afon Hotel, Usk.

Jonathan Jones, chief executive of the Wales Tourist Board commented:

� We are delighted to support the Wales in Bloom initiative. First impressions count a lot in the tourism business and there is no better way to create a good and lasting impression than to present a clean and attractive image.

�The initiative encourages communities to work together to improve and regenerate their local environments which in its turn raises environmental awareness and creates a general sense of pride in the community.

�I�d like to congratulate all of the towns, villages and cities that have worked so hard to improve their community�s image.�

Wales in Bloom foundation have been encouraged again this year by the enthusiasm of those entering the competition, the first competition was held in 1969, and organisers report that it�s still going strong.

Chairman of Wales in Bloom, Clive Addison commented on the 2004 competition:

�I am very pleased that the Wales in Bloom competition has been such a success this year, with substantial increases of numbers of participants in some classes. With its wider emphasis in the community classes, on improvement of the total environment, the competition and campaign goes from strength to strength. With support from the Wales Tourist Board, I would say well done to all those who have taken part, and who have contributed to making Wales an even more beautiful place to live in and to visit.�

Wales in Bloom has been chosen by Britain in Bloom and the Royal Horticultural Society to pilot the new Neighbourhood Awards Category. The category is non competitive and it is hoped that it will motivate communities across Wales who have not previously entered the Wales in Bloom Campaign. All entries receive a free gift of �100 worth of spring bulbs to further enhance future projects. In 2004, 68 communities across Wales applied for recognition in the Neighbourhood Category of the Wales in Bloom Awards.

Clive Addison chairman of Wales in Bloom commented on the success of the Neighbourhood category:

�I am delighted that numbers of participants have increased for the second year of this new initiative. Along with support from the Wales Tourist Board, this Awards Scheme really does help community groups of all sizes, the length and breadth of Wales, get started in improving their environment. There is no doubt that the Neighbourhood Awards Scheme is a winner.�

For more information, please contact Sheila Lewis on 01492 533363 or by e mail walesinbloom@yahoo.co.uk

CLASS 1 City Trophy Population 70,000+ 1st CARDIFF CITY 2nd NEWPORT CITY

CLASS 2 Large Town Trophy Population 25,001 � 70,000 1st COLWYN BAY 2nd BARRY Merit MERTHYR TYDFIL

CLASS 3 Town Trophy Population 10,001 � 25,000 1st LLANDUDNO 2nd CAERPHILLY Merit TENBY

Class 4 Small Town Trophy Population 5,001 � 10,000 1st ABERGAVENNY 2nd CHEPSTOW Merit HOLYWELL

Class 5 Small Country Town Population 2,001 � 5,000 1st USK 2nd LAMPETER Merit SAUNDERSFOOT

Class 6 Large Village Trophy Population 601 � 2,000 1st CRICCIETH 2nd CRICKHOWELL Merit RAGLAN

Class 7 Village Trophy Population 600 max. 1st LLANASA 2ND WOLFSCASTLE Merit LLANDEGLA, (for picnic area)

NEIGHBOURHOOD AWARDS

ALWAY IN BLOOM, NEWPORT CAE SEREN ESTATE, RUTHIN CAIA PARK, WREXHAM CWRT WM HUGHES N.W. HOUSING, LLANDUDNO HEOL CLWYD, ST ASAPH MAES MYRDDIN, LLANRWST MAES Y LLAN N.W. HOUSING TOWYN, ABERGELE MARSH COMMUNITY CENTRE,RHYL MONTE BRE N.W. HOUSING, LLANDUDNO NODDFA, N.W. HOUSING, COLWYN BAY PLAS BRYNMOR, PENMAENMAWR SCOTLAND STREET, LLANRWST TAN Y LAN, OLD COLWYN, COLWYN BAY WESTON COURT SHELTERED HOUSING, RHYL AMMANFORD BEDLINOG, TRELEWIS BLAENAU BENDIGEDIG, BLAE.FFESTINIOG BLODAU BLASUS, MAESGEIRCHEN BRECON, BRECON CAE MAWR, LLANDUDNO CAERPHILLY, CAERPHILLY CEMAES BAY, ANGLESEY COED Y BRYN ESTATE, WREXHAM CYFLE, BLAENAU FFESTINIOG FAIRY GLEN, OLD COLWYN, COLWYN BAY GLANRAFON, LLANRWST LLANDDULAS VILLAGE, LLANDDULAS LLANDDULAS VILLAGE HALL, LLANDDULAS LLANDEGLA VILLAGE, NR WREXHAM LLANDOVERY, LLANDOVERY LLANGAIN, LOWER LLANGAIN, CARMS LLANGAIN, UPPER LLANGAIN, CARMS LLANMARTIN, NEWPORT LLANYBRI, CARMS MATHERN, MATHERN/STAUNTON MOLEFRE, ANGLESEY MOUNTAIN ASH, FERNHILL, GLAMORGAN MOUNTON, MATHERN/STAUNTON NANNERCH VILLAGE, MOLD, FLINTSHIRE NEWCASTLE EMLYN, CAPERL IWAN OLD BARMOUTH, BARMOUTH PANT/DOWLAIS PARKWAY SHELTERED HOUSING, RHOS ON SEA, COLWYN BAY PEN Y GRAIG/LYNBOURNE, PEN Y GRAIG PENALLY, TENBY PENRHOSLLIGWY, ANGLESEY PENTRE GWYN, WREXHAM PEULWYS VILLAGE, OLD COLWYN PLAS Y BERLLAN, LLANFAIRFECHAN RHIWBINA, CARDIFF RHYD Y FOEL, ABERGELE ROCK GARDEN BRYN BLODAU HOME, BLAENAU FFESTINIOG SEALAND MANOR RESIDENTS DEESIDE, FLINTSHIRE TAN Y COED, WREXHAM TAN Y COED GARDENS, OLD COLWYN, COLWYN BAY TAN Y LAN., OLD COLWYN, COLWYN BAY TEMPLETON, NARBERTH TONGWYNLAIS, CARDIFF TREFIL, TREDEGAR TREM ELIDIR, BANGOR TREVOR STREET, LLANDUDNO WATTS DYKE SCHOOL, MOLD WHITCHURCH, CARDIFF WYNN GARDENS, OLD COLWYN, COLWYN BAY YSBYTY IFAN, GWERNLLWYD UCHAF BASSALEG, NEWPORT MAES BERLLAN, LLANDUDNO Y WERN, WREXHAM