DARTMOUTH has taken a gold in the South West in Bloom Awards. A contingent led by the Dart­mouth Green Partnerships travelled to an awards ceremony in Trow­bridge where the town was awarded the Ayre Cup for the best coastal town with a population under 10,000 in the south west, from the Isles of Scilly to Gloucester. Afterwards, spokesman Kathy Stansfield it was a 'great day' for Dartmouth and took the town to the top of the class in its category, which was more hotly contested every year. A clutch of awards also went to Townstal, which for the first time was entered separately in the Pennant category where it received a silver gilt in the group for a village to a small town. Earlier this summer, judges had toured Townstal to see open spaces where the partnership has looked after displays for several years, including the wild flower beds, and some new areas where fruit trees had been planted with the Sea Cadets, as well as private gardens and roads where residents had planted up and looked after beds on street corners. A 2014 silver gilt commemorative poppy bed award also went to the Sea Cadets memorial bed and the Royal Avenue Gardens poppy bed combined. Royal Avenue Gard­ens won a gold award in the best parks and open spaces south west category, and Milton Lane allotments won a gold in the new best allotment site in the South West. The Monk Trophy, for the best planting of native wild flowers, went to Townstal for its display by the Sains­bury's roundabout. Out of nine entries in the It's Your Neigh­bourhood category, Dartmouth was outstanding in five, compared to just one last year. 'This is a fantastic result and a tribute to the efforts of all those involved,' said Kathy. 'Community awards are becoming more important, as the RHS stresses the importance of involving local people.' Partnership chairman Stevie Rogers said: 'It was another great year. We are going from strength to strength. Well done everyone.' It's Your Neighbour­hood results: Foss Street, outstanding; Milton Lane Allot­ments, outstanding; Coombe Terrace, outstanding; St Saviour's Square/ Anzac Street, outstanding; potager and greenhouse site, outstanding; Higher Street/Smith Street, thriving; the Old Market, thriving; St John the Baptist School, thriving; Townstal Community Hall and bus stop triangle, developing. Dartmouth was also shortlisted in the following categorie: outstanding contribution to the environment; best environmental initiative, Townstal; best portfolio and best pub floral display in the south west. The competition was very close between all the towns, villages and city entries in the south west.