Royal Tunbridge Wells won Gold and the Small City category at the South and South East in Bloom awards, and two of its parks won their categories too.

Royal Tunbridge Wells has been awarded Gold in the South and South East in Bloom awards for 2026. It also won the Small City category outright.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council announced the result on Friday 9 October. (Tunbridge Wells Borough Council)

Two of the town’s green spaces won their own categories, and four more took Gold.

Every award the town’s parks won

Place Award Category
Tunbridge Wells Commons Gold, category winner Commons
Grosvenor and Hilbert Park Gold, category winner Large park
Dunorlan Park Gold
Calverley Grounds Gold
Woodbury Park Cemetery Gold
Tunbridge Wells Cemetery and Crematorium Gold
Barnetts Wood Nature Reserve Silver Gilt

Source: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, 9 October 2026.

Lawns and mature trees in Calverley Grounds, Royal Tunbridge Wells
Calverley Grounds, one of four Tunbridge Wells green spaces given Gold this year. Photo: Calverley Grounds, Tunbridge Wells by Robert Cutts (CC BY 2.0), via Flickr

A run of Golds

This is not a one-off. Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom says the town won Gold in the regional competition in 2023 and 2024. It also won Gold in the national RHS Britain in Bloom competition in 2023 and again in 2025. (Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom)

The campaign was revived in 2010 by the council and the Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Forum, a partnership of residents’ representatives and ward councillors. The competition had been popular in the town before it lapsed. (Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom)

Who did the work

The council thanked a long list of people. It named the contractors and teams behind the planting and upkeep:

  • Tivoli and FCC Environment
  • Kent High Weald Partnership
  • DS Restoration and Treework
  • the council’s Street Scene team, Crematorium office, Economic Development and the Amelia Scott team
  • Tunbridge Wells Together, the town centre business group

“Above all” it thanked the volunteers, Friends groups, businesses, schools and residents who look after the town’s planting. (Tunbridge Wells Borough Council)

Also this week: the Love Where We Live winners

The council also named the winners of its Love Where We Live community awards. The ceremony was held on Tuesday 6 October. (Tunbridge Wells Borough Council)

  • Charity: Baby Umbrella
  • Community group: Southborough SOS
  • Sportsperson or team: Harry Gripper
  • Volunteer: Lizzie Penman-Green
  • Young volunteer: Saskia D’arcy
  • Young sports achiever: Matt Knoeson
  • Green business: Charlie’s Angels Kitchens
  • Youth organisation: Kent Young Carers
  • Good neighbour: Julie Goff
  • Love Where We Live award: Lizzie Penman-Green

Lizzie Penman-Green won twice: the volunteer category and the overall award.

What it means for you

All of the award-winning spaces are free to visit. Dunorlan Park, Calverley Grounds and Grosvenor and Hilbert Park are all within walking distance of the town centre, and the Commons run right up to it.

If you want to take part next year, the In Bloom campaign runs a residents’ competition each summer. This year’s entry forms went out in April, with judging in July. (Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom)

For more ideas on where to go, see our guide to things to do in Tunbridge Wells.