The Portsmouth in Bloom 2026 awards recognised the city's best gardens, community spaces, schools and businesses
Portsmouth's greenest gardens, community spaces, schools and businesses have been recognised at the Portsmouth in Bloom 2026 awards.
The much-loved competition returned this year as part of Portsmouth100 and was run by Portsmouth City Council in partnership with The News and Portsmouth Water, under the expert guidance of award-winning gardening writer, author and television presenter Martyn Cox.
The Portsmouth in Bloom Awards were held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at The Queens Hotel in Southsea.
Pictured is: The winners from the Portsmouth in Bloom Awards.
Picture: Sarah Standing (081026-9519) | Sarah Standing
The revived competition focused on sustainable gardens and spaces that have adapted to the changing environment through thoughtful planting, reducing waste, supporting healthy soil and biodiversity, avoiding harmful chemicals and making efficient use of water resources. The event was a celebration of the people helping to make the city greener, more colourful and more wildlife friendly during Portsmouth's centenary year.
At a special awards ceremony at the Queens Hotel in Southsea winners were presented with a trophy and a Waterfront Garden Centre voucher.
Councillor Kimberly Barrett, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Greening the City, said: "Portsmouth in Bloom has highlighted the fantastic gardens, growing spaces and community projects that can be found across our city.
"The competition has celebrated not only beautiful spaces but also the effort that residents, businesses, schools and community groups are making to support nature, improve biodiversity and create greener neighbourhoods.
"As we mark Portsmouth100, it has been wonderful to see so many people taking part and helping Portsmouth bloom. Congratulations to all of our winners and everyone who entered."
The winners of Portsmouth in Bloom 2026 were:
Best Large Garden - Sally Craddock
The Portsmouth in Bloom Awards were held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at The Queens Hotel in Southsea.
Pictured is: Mark Waldron, editor-in-chief for The News, Portsmouth, with winner of the Best Large Garden Award Sally Craddock.
Picture: Sarah Standing (081026-9458) | Sarah Standing
Best Balcony or Container - Sandra Ward
Best Wildlife Garden - Graham Karl Martin
The Portsmouth in Bloom Awards were held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at The Queens Hotel in Southsea.
Pictured is: (right) Iain Vosper, chief operating officer at Portsmouth Water, with Graham Karl Martin, winner of the Best Wildlife Garden Award.
Picture: Sarah Standing (081026-9469) | Iconic Resell
Best Nursery, School or College - Little Bears Pre-School
The Portsmouth in Bloom Awards were held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at The Queens Hotel in Southsea.
Pictured is: Martyn Cox, garden creator, writer and broadcaster, with the winners of the Best Nursery, School or College Award, Little Bears Pre-School.
Picture: Sarah Standing (081026-9460) | Iconic Resell
Best Communal or Community Garden - Royal Marines Memorial Garden
The Portsmouth in Bloom Awards were held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at The Queens Hotel in Southsea.
Pictured is: (left) Cllr. Kimberly Barrett with the team from the Royal Marine Memorial Gardens who were winners of the Best Communal or Community Garden Award.
Picture: Sarah Standing (081026-9495) | Iconic Resell
Best Borrowed Space - Ray Hunt
The Portsmouth in Bloom Awards were held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at The Queens Hotel in Southsea.
Pictured is: (right) Editor-in-chief Mark Waldron for The News, Portsmouth with Ray Hunt winner of the Best Borrowed Space Award for his work in Adair Road and Kassassin Street.
Picture: Sarah Standing (081026-9477) | Iconic Resell
Best Growing Space - James Wiggins
The Portsmouth in Bloom Awards were held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at The Queens Hotel in Southsea.
Pictured is: (right) Mark Waldron, editor-in-chief for The News, Portsmouth, with James Wiggins winner of the Best Growing Space Award.
Picture: Sarah Standing (081026-9480) | Iconic Resell
Best Hotel, Pub or Restaurant - The Phoenix
The Portsmouth in Bloom Awards were held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at The Queens Hotel in Southsea.
Pictured is: Martyn Cox, garden creator, writer and broadcaster, with the winner of Best Hotel, Pub or Restaurant Award, The Phoenix pub.
Picture: Sarah Standing (081026-9465) | Iconic Resell
Best Small Garden - Yvette Curtis
The Portsmouth in Bloom Awards were held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at The Queens Hotel in Southsea.
Pictured is: Martyn Cox, garden creator, writer and broadcaster with second winner of the Best Small Garden Award Yvette Curtis.
Picture: Sarah Standing (081026-9489) | Iconic Resell
Best Small Garden - Brigitta Kovacs
The Portsmouth in Bloom Awards were held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at The Queens Hotel in Southsea.
Pictured is: Martyn Cox, garden creator, writer and broadcaster with Brigitta Kovacs winner of the Best Small Garden Award.
Picture: Sarah Standing (081026-9485) | Iconic Resell
Special Award for Biodiversity - Cate Butler
The Portsmouth in Bloom Awards were held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at The Queens Hotel in Southsea.
Pictured is: Iain Vosper, chief operating officer at Portsmouth Water, with Cate Butler who received the Special Award for Biodiversity.
Picture: Sarah Standing (081026-9473) | Iconic Resell
Special Award for Community Wellbeing - Milton Piece Community Allotment
The Portsmouth in Bloom Awards were held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at The Queens Hotel in Southsea.
Pictured is: (right) Cllr. Kimberly Barrett with the team from Milton Piece Community Allotment who were winners of the Special Award for Community Wellbeing.
Picture: Sarah Standing (081026-9500) | Iconic Resell
Editor in chief of The News Mark Waldron told the winners it was fantastic that Portsmouth in Bloom had been brought back to to the city after The News had run the annual event for many years under the expert guidance of the late Brian Kidd. ‘As one of the judges it was so hard to pick the winners when you could see the love which had gone in to every single entry,’ he said.
Portsmouth in Bloom was revived as part of the city's centenary celebrations to encourage residents, businesses and organisations to create and maintain spaces that support wildlife, improve the local environment and bring communities together.
