Cupar has been declared blooming lovely after scooping gardening gold – seven months after the town’s hopes appeared to have withered.
Members of environmental group Cupar in Bloom were stunned to be told this week they had won the town category award at last year’s prestigious RHS Britain in Bloom competition.
The Fife market town originally lost out to Falmouth in Cornwall, with the local council there saying the award meant “so much to us”.
But it has been revealed an administrative bungle by organisers meant the English town had been entered in the wrong category.
When the error was realised, judges immediately contacted Cupar in Bloom who have now been presented with the prize.
The Cupar group had scooped gold in the town category at the ceremony in October, but this latest honour means it is officially the best of the best.
It is not clear where the mistake leaves Falmouth, which had celebrated its win by giving local school children juice and biscuits and letting them visit the mayor’s parlour.
Simon Penna, grounds and facilities manager with Falmouth Town Council, said his understanding was the town was still a winner and had just been in the wrong category.
The Royal Horticultural Society, which organises Britain in Bloom, was unable to confirm that.
Meanwhile, Cupar in Bloom are absolutely delighted with the surprise news.
Chairman Mary Law said: “My enthusiastic team, Cupar in Bloom, are over the moon with the newly disclosed news that we were the winner of the town category in the Britain in Bloom final in 2015.
“It is a great achievement for our town and exemplifies how everyone works together to take a pride in Cupar.”
Keith Jackson, parks and community events officer at Fife Council said Cupar was a wonderful example of all that is best about Britain in Bloom and the “amazing” people who roll up their sleeves to make change happen.
“The volunteers have supported the local Beautiful Fife competition, been consistent winners at a national level in Beautiful Scotland and are very deserving of this UK accolade,” he said.
Cupar in Bloom is now busy preparing for this year’s Beautiful Scotland awards.
The rules state they cannot win Britain in Bloom two years running but Perth will represent Courier country in the 2016 final following its success in Beautiful Scotland last year.
