GOSFIELD’S first entry to Anglia In Bloom in 2018 saw them awarded a Silver Gilt Award.

But this year they will be hoping to go one better in their quest to pick up their first gold for best village.

The team’s floral displays were judged when experts from Anglia In Bloom visited the village to assess their months of hard work.

Starting at Gosfield Lake Park Homes, the judges were slowly shown around the village before finishing at the pavilion where all of the volunteers had gathered to meet and greet them.

This year the displays were all inspired by the birth of Queen Victoria 200 years ago, and the main attraction was a row of nine wheelbarrows, each representing the former ruler’s nine children.

Each one was designed by community groups, such as Gosfield’s Rainbows and Brownies, the football team, pupils at Gosfield Primary School, and the mother and toddler group.

Gosfield In Bloom co-founder Mandy Adams said: “The judges seemed very impressed on the day and thoroughly enjoyed themselves looking around the village.

“The community has really supported our ‘Bloomers’.

“The village is blooming and we have to offer a big thanks to Halstead Garden Centre who this year supplied all the flowers and plants.

“Our theme this year was celebrating the birth of Queen Victoria 200 years ago and the special attraction was along the village ha-ha wall, where we recreated the nine wheelbarrows from Osborne House, representing Queen Victoria’s nine children – designed by local groups.”