Southport Gateway Signs Celebrate Bloom Champions

By Hiyastar Newsroom

New gateway signs have been installed at two entrances to Southport to mark the town’s Britain in Bloom Champion of Champions success.

The signs, put up by Sefton Council staff last week, welcome visitors to Southport and carry the message: “Britain in Bloom Champion of Champions”. They are located at the Plough Roundabout end of Preston New Road and at the Woodvale end of the Coast Road.

Southport’s national horticultural title

Southport In Bloom won the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom Overall Winner award in 2025, bringing the national title to Sefton for the first time since the award began in 1963.

The town also received a Gold Award and the Judge’s Highlight award, while Southport was named Best Coastal Town at the ceremony in Brighton. The result was announced in October on BBC One’s The One Show.

Volunteers and businesses behind the display

The winning bid was coordinated by Sefton Council staff, volunteer groups and local businesses. Judges visited Southport last summer to assess the town’s planting, green spaces and community-led horticultural work.

Sefton’s wider In Bloom season also brought Gold Award status from North West In Bloom for Ainsdale, Bootle and Crosby & Waterloo, alongside Southport. Several community groups across the borough also received RHS In Your Neighbourhood awards for local environmental care.

Council praise for Southport In Bloom

Cllr Joanne Williams, Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said the signs were intended as a permanent reminder of the achievement.

“Hopefully everyone involved will feel a burst of pride every time they drive into Southport and get a reminder of what their efforts led to,” she said.

She added that judges are due to visit Sefton again for the 2026 awards season, with local groups preparing new planting and growing projects across the borough.

Source: Sefton Council