Best Kept Village

Best Kept Village is an opportunity to shout about what a wonderful place Abbots Bromley is. Everyone can make a difference so please help out!

For an update on the Best Kept Village competition in 2020 please see the news page.

We did it! Three years on the trot, winners of the Best Kept Village competition. In 2019 not only did we compete against our local villages in East Staffordshire but we also were in competition with villages from the Moorlands, so the efforts by all of the Village to win this accolade means even more.

The new sponsors of the competition, Lafarge, are the providers of the post and subsequently the design is based on their logo. Many of you will have noticed this new plaque does not have our previous winning plaques on it; we have asked that this is rectified and our last three winning plaques also be affixed.

It was with great pleasure to receive the award from the Judges on the morning of the 5th October, where so many of the people and groups who helped make this happen turned out to watch the presentation.

It goes without saying that winning such an accolade takes enormous effort and a special thanks must go to all the groups and individuals that helped keep areas of the village tidy throughout the competition. Judges specifically commented on Abbots Bromley’s ability to involve so many people in the efforts. A big thank you must go to all the children at Richard Clarke First School and Abbots Bromley School for all of the wonderful posters they produced and also to those who placed a BKV poster in their windows along the main road, we do get points awarded for this and this year it was noted by the judges that we had a good show of posters on display.

What is Best Kept Village?

The Best Kept Village (BKV) Competition is organised annually in Staffordshire and aims to encourage community spirit throughout the year and to stimulate pride in villages. The competition is judged by independent volunteer judges who make unscheduled visits during the summer months and mark what they notice during these visits.

Abbots Bromley record?

In 2019, 2018 and 2017, we won the East Staffordshire’s Best Kept Village 2017 (large village category) and the Community Council of Staffordshire’s Trophy. In 2016, we came second to Yoxall in the East Staffordshire District Large Village Category of the competition. In 2015 we came 2nd. In 2014 we came 1st.

What is judged?

Judging in the Best Kept Village normally takes place in the first weeks of May, June and July.

The judges will develop an overall impression of the community spirit of the residents as they walk around the village, but mark on the following features: BKV Publicity and Awareness; Children’s Posters; Notice Boards; Local Information (including Recycling and Dog-fouling Awareness); Church/Chapel Surrounds; Communal Buildings; Public Houses; Bus Shelters, Seating Areas, Village Signs and Features; War Memorial; Large Public Open Spaces, Greens, Playing Fields, etc; Small Open Spaces; Private Gardens; Children’s Play Areas, Play Equipment and Safety Surfaces; Map; General Cleanliness and Community Effort (including Litter and Dog-fouling).