THE SANDOWN Green Town volunteers celebrated their successful summer at a tea-party held at the Gaslight Cafe at Sandown Station.

The group, which are responsible for planters and troughs throughout Sandown, were joined by residents and representatives of local businesses who has supported them during the year.

Volunteers aim to develop environmentally sustainable planting that also makes Sandown an attractive place to live and work and that will make visitors want to return.

The team work on the major flower beds in from of Sandown Pier and organise beach and litter picks throughout the town.

Their hard work this year has led to multiple awards and much recognition, not only Island-wide but in regional contest as well.

They won the environmental category at the 2018 Community Action Awards and received a highly commended for best community floral project at Wight in Bloom.

More widely, the team were successful in the RHS South and South East in Bloom awards, receiving an outstanding in the 'It's Your Neighbourhood' category and a silver gilt in the Parish in Bloom category.

When visiting the town, the Parish in Bloom assessor was shown the Bay School's Community Kids' work at the Briars and Sandown Station, Glory Art Glass and the Sandown Bowls Club.

Ian Boyd of the Common Space conducted the assessor along the Willow Walk and discussed plans for encouraging coastal plants, while the assessor took note of the many attractive front gardens throughout the town.

To recognise the local support they had received with the Parish in Bloom entry and with watering facilities throughout the summer, Sandown Green Town Volunteers were delighted to award the South & South East in Bloom’s 2018 Certificate of Excellence to Sandown Business Association, Glory Art Glass, Sandown Bowls Club, Ian Boyd, the Bayshore Hotel, the Royal Pier Hotel, Hotel Maria, The Tap, the Broadway Stores, Graham Parker, Rosa Smith and Victor Hook.