PRESTATYN's community gardeners are celebrating after achieving Gold in the RHS Britain in Bloom competition.

Bloomers impressed judges with their focus on wildlife.

The town - which won gold in the Large Town category - has a hedgehog hospital, Wales’ only breeding colony of little terns and successfully uses ponies to manage its grasslands.

Dr James Davies, chairman of the Prestatyn in Bloom Committee, said: "To have secured gold at the Britain in Bloom level for the second time is a fantastic achievement, and all the better following on from our gold medal and best ever score at the regional level last month.

"Entering bloom is a major ongoing commitment involving hundreds of individuals in one way or another and our ever improving results just go to show the value of entering - thank you to all involved."

Rhyl Journal:

A blooming good result! For Prestatyn. Baroness Floella Benjamin (centre) presented the awards

Three finalists - including Prestatyn - represented the country in Britain in Bloom following success in the Wales in Bloom.

A total of 68 groups from across the UK competed in 12 categories, with each also vying for a gold, silver gilt, silver or bronze medal.

Llandudno won the Large Coastal category and saw off competition from Bexhill-on-Sea and Newquay. The town also earned a gold medal for the exceptional standard of its entry.

Llandudno’s jewel in the crown was the Great Orme limestone headland, an important conservation area, while other projects included the planting of disease-resistant elm trees and a community vineyard in Haulfre Gardens, harvested this year to produce its first wine.

Ystradgynlais on the edge of the Brecon Beacons, a first-time finalist in the Town category, took home a silver gilt medal.

Finalists are judged not only on their floral displays but environmental and community efforts.

Each was visited by a pair of RHS judges over a fortnight from the end of July.

Darren Share, chair of the RHS Britain in Bloom judges, said: “Congratulations to all of this year’s UK finalists. It’s incredibly humbling to hear about the huge efforts they’ve invested in making our villages, towns and cities greener places to live, work and visit.

"This makes a tremendous difference locally but has a wider impact too. Gardeners are increasingly having to respond to the changing climate, declining pollinator numbers and plastic waste and more communities are galvanizing people around these issues to bring about positive change.”

The finalists collected their awards from Baroness Floella Benjamin, RHS Vice President, at the ceremony held in the RHS Lindley Hall, London.