Villages in Wiltshire competing to be this year’s CPRE Wiltshire and The Hills Group Best Kept Village in the county have found out if they have taken one step closer to the prize as the results of the first round of judging are announced.
This year’s competition started with 28 villages from around the county who were put under the microscope by the expert team of judges who are looking for criteria including tidiness, cleanliness, presentation and village community spirit.
One village, Castle Eaton, has been announced as this year’s ‘Best Newcomer’ and will receive a £150 cash prize.
“The parish councils and their volunteers had clearly been hard at work, achieving encouragingly high standards and making the judges’ task that much more difficult,” said Mike Manson from CPRE Wiltshire.
Each village is judged within the categories of ‘Small’, ‘Medium’ and ‘Large’ and in this first round they are only judged within their own district: West Wiltshire, North Wiltshire, South Wiltshire or Kennet (East Wiltshire).
The final results will be announced in August and on the 26th September the presentation to the winners will be made by the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire and CPRE Wiltshire’s President, Mrs Sarah Troughton.
North Wiltshire and Swindon
| Category | Rank | Village |
|---|---|---|
| Large Villages | 1st | Blunsdon |
| Large Villages | 2nd= | Tadpole Garden Village |
| Large Villages | 2nd= | Brinkworth |
| Large Villages | 4th | Box |
| Medium Villages | 1st | Oaksey |
| Medium Villages | 2nd | Dauntsey |
| Small Villages | 1st | Castle Eaton |
| Small Villages | 2nd | Hankerton |
| Small Villages | 3rd | Marston Meysey |
| Small Villages | 4th | Upper & Lower Seagry |
Kennet
| Category | Rank | Village |
|---|---|---|
| Large Villages | 1st | Ramsbury |
| Large Villages | 2nd | Seend |
| Large Villages | 3rd | Bromham |
| Large Villages | 4th | Rowde |
| Medium Villages | 1st | All Cannings |
| Medium Villages | 2nd | Froxfield |
| Small Villages | 1st | Woodborough |
| Small Villages | 2nd | Rushall |
| Small Villages | 3rd | Ham |
West Wiltshire
| Category | Rank | Village |
|---|---|---|
| Large Villages | 1st | Hilperton (only entrant) |
| Medium Villages | 1st | Sutton Veny (only entrant) |
| Small Villages | 1st | Bishopstrow |
| Small Villages | 2nd | Bukington |
| Small Villages | 3rd | Beanacre |
South Wiltshire
| Category | Rank | Village |
|---|---|---|
| Large Villages | 1st | Whiteparish (only entrant) |
| Medium Villages | 1st | Tilshead |
| Medium Villages | 2nd | Maiden Bradley |
| Medium Villages | 3rd | Dinton |
| Small Villages | – | No entrants |
