REVEALED: Where are Wiltshire's Best Kept Villages?
The county's top locations have been chosen by CPRE Wiltshire
The Best Kept Villages in Wiltshire have been crowned - with a couple in our neck of the woods!
CPRE Wiltshire has presented prizes to the areas that have come out on top, in a tour of the county last weekend (Sunday 24th September).
Urchfont has been named the best medium sized village in Wiltshire - compared against other entries with a population of between 300 and 1,000 people.
Rushall also took a prize, in the Laurence Kitching Winner of Winners category, for areas that have won in the competition over the last few years.
Tockenham near Swindon was the small village award, with Bratton near Westbury crowned the best large village.
The Competition isn't looking for the most picturesque villages, but the ones that are best cared-for.
Judging criteria includes the state of roadside hedges and walls, residential gardens, public areas and buildings, footpaths, churchyards, external areas around schools and churches, notice boards, litter and also an indication of community spirit.
Urchfont was found to have 'fantastic' allotments and an 'immaculate' cemetery, with 'attractive wild flowers in the churchyard conservation area' and 'a well-stocked' village shop, run by volunteers.
Rushall is the first village to win the winner of winners award on three occasions, since its inception in 2000, beating off competition from previous best kept villages - Whiteparish, Tilshead and Ramsbury.
Judges felt there was 'clearly a strong sense of residents’ pride in their village and all areas were well maintained'.
Carly Paoli, an international soprano and CPRE Wiltshire’s Countryside Ambassador, presented an oak tree which she had donated, as a permanent memorial for Rushall:
"Being a Countryside Ambassador for CPRE Wiltshire really means a lot to me and I have such admiration for all the hard work that is done by volunteers in the villages of Wiltshire.
"The countryside in Wiltshire and around the country is so special and needs to be preserved and enjoyed and this competition really helps to improve the environment and generate a true sense of community spirit. It will be such a pleasure to present the tree to this year’s “Winner of Winners” Award to Rushall who have now won it for the third time and I look forward to seeing it flourish."
The awards have been primarily sponsored by CCm Technologies, CEO Pawel Kisielewski, said:
“The 2023 winners, from across the county, yet again showcase the divergent and extraordinary beauty of Wilshire. CCm congratulates all this year’s entrants, in particular Bratton, Urchfont, Tockenham and Rushall."