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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK's leading gardening charity and through its Britain in Bloom campaign encourages people to join together to improve their local environments. Over 1,100 communities across the UK participate and this year, 66 finalists were chosen to represent their region/nation in the UK finals. Each entry is judged on achievements in horticulture, environmental responsibility and community participation.

Special discretionary awards were given to communities and individuals that demonstrate excellence in a particular area. The Community Champion Awards were presented to a total of 13 people; the Local Roots discretionary award was presented to Halstead in Anglia commending its local heritage and horticulture. The Young People's Award was presented to Douglas on the Isle of Man for its youth projects including a free-running area. The Commercial Award was awarded to Beighton in Sheffield for Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre and its responsible approach to the environment which includes bee-hives on the roof, bird boxes and insect-friendly plants as well as clean-up events and wildlife walks.

Roger Burnett, Chair of the RHS Britain in Bloom national judging panel said, "2010 has seen a bumper crop of entries into the national finals with many achieving top medals despite difficult economical times and a severe winter and late spring. This combined with Local Authority budgets being ever more stretched has seen various communities up and down Great Britain really pulling out all the stops.

"As judges we look for winners; however the real winners are the people who take part in Britain in Bloom, who tirelessly work for the benefit of their community. The Bloom initiative is, and will continue to be, the best example of David Cameron's "Big Society" in action. All our communities have ownership of their environment and are continually looking at ways to take on responsibility for making their individual spaces, cleaner, greener and safer for all to enjoy."