Welwyn Garden City has scooped one gold and three special awards at the Anglia in Bloom 2024 ceremony.

The town's floral beauty was recognised in the categories of Best Business Improvement District (BID) Town, Best Sustainable Planting for the Anniversary Garden, Best Public Open Space for Howardsgate and Parkway, and Best Local Authority Floral Display.

The town also won the Best Community Project for the All Aboarders display, and Oak Hill Cemetery and Crematorium received a bronze award in the cemeteries category.

The awards were announced on September 6.

The town's submission was judged on plant choice, maintenance, environmental responsibility, and community participation.

Councillor Sandreni Bonfante, executive member for the environment, said: "This has been our most successful year for Anglia in Bloom.

"In 2024, we continued to make improvements to the open spaces in our town centres and borough, focusing on sustainability in our environment.

"It is great that this hard work from our officers and volunteers has been recognised with these awards."

"I would like to congratulate and thank our fantastic volunteers, community groups, contractors, the Welwyn Garden City BID team and council officers on this wonderful achievement."

The town has also been nominated for the 2024 Britain in Bloom competition, with the winners set to be announced this autumn.

Mariana Bitonte, Welwyn Garden City BID manager, said: "Winning the award for Best BID town at Anglia in Bloom is a wonderful recognition of the great work and dedication that goes into designing and maintaining such beautiful green spaces and floral displays.

"We are very proud of our town centre, and this award is confirmation that our joint commitment to maintaining and enhancing our environment is the spirit of what it means to be a Garden City."

The town was judged by Anglia in Bloom judges John Crawley and Ian Chatters, who toured the town centre in July.

Mr Crawley said: "My fellow judge Ian Chatters and I really enjoyed seeing the variety of trees around the town centre and the wonderful planting from the All Aboarders display at the train station, to the Anniversary Garden and Centenary Woodland Garden."