The late Ida Anscomb, a resident, contacted John Bull and Liz Hardman who were Paulton’s BANES Councillors asking for help to form a group to keep Paulton looking cared for. Paulton in Bloom was formed along with Becky Parker, Lynn Madden and Hazel Rowcliffe, they entered Bath in Bloom and they were awarded a Silver Trophy. Hazel, Lynn and Becky were then joined over the next couple of years by Gail Garlick, Hilary Smyth and Haley Shackleton and we became Pride in Paulton. We have had members come and go but the 6 of us have been PiP for over 12 years! We have been joined recently by Lynne Langton, Carol Godwin, Liz Shone and Chris Watson and look forward to looking after Paulton for many years to come.
In 2013, our first year, we entered South West in Bloom we were awarded Silver Gilt in the Ayre Cup, best new entry and outstanding community effort. The following year we won Gold in the Ayre Cup, Silver Gilt Commemoration Poppy and the Sargent trophy for outstanding effort and dedication from a competition entry. 2015 and 2017 saw us awarded a Silver Gilt in the Ayre Cup. In 2018 we won Best Large Village in Somerset. We now enter Bath in Bloom and in the last two years we have been awarded Gold and also the Category winner.
We don’t just do flowers, although you can see our work around the Village, bottom of Downsway, corner of Elm Road and Winterfield Road, bottom of Paulto Hill. We have made a huge difference at Hill Court (where the Co Op is) with lots of creative planting and more recently have created a Stumpery at the back of Hill Court. Other projects have included - in 2018 we produced the River of Poppies and we received over 3000 poppies made by residents and visitors to Paulton, we still use the poppy net every Remembrance Sunday. In 2022, to celebrate the Queens Platinum Anniversary, we organised 100 corgis decorated by Paulton Residents, they were then displayed at Party in the Park. The 5 Bollard People proved very popular in 2025 which were made to commemorate 80 years since the end of WW2.
We are a friendly group and meet every Tuesday for 2-3 hours. If you would like to join us for however many hours you can spare then please contact us on moc.liamg%40pihsrentrapnotluapniedirp