Bishop Auckland has been recognised for its commitment to environmental improvement and civic pride after winning Gold in the Large Town category at the annual Northumbria in Bloom Awards.
Representatives from the Town Council’s Greener Together Group travelled to Gateshead on Wednesday 16 September 2026 to attend the prestigious awards ceremony, where Bishop Auckland achieved a Gold Award in the Large Towns category, which saw them go on to beat strong competition from Alnwick, Durham and Chester-le-Street to take the top honour, of ‘Best In Class’.
Mayor Michael Siddle, who chairs the Greener Together Group, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to have received Gold and to have been named the winner of the Large Town category. This achievement reflects the hard work, dedication and passion of so many individuals, community groups, and organisations who care deeply about Bishop Auckland. The recognition received by the other winners in our town demonstrates the strength of community spirit across Bishop Auckland. Everyone involved should be extremely proud of what has been achieved. Taking over the responsibility of Town Centre Planting from Durham County Council has been a huge step for the Town Council this year, not just in terms of financial investment but investment into partnerships and collaboration. The partnerships which we are building sees real action where people are coming together to transform spaces, improve biodiversity, and bring life and colour to disused spaces.”
The success did not stop there, with several local organisations also receiving recognition for their contribution to enhancing the town and its communities:
- Bishop Auckland Hospital Garden received a gold award and won Best in Class.
- Auckland Palace received a Gold Award in the Visitor Attraction category.
- Cultivate 4 Life achieved a coveted Level 5 Outstanding ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood Award’.
- Green Matters received a Level 2 Improving ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood Award’ for its new project at Cockton Hill Bowling Green.
The awards celebrate the efforts of volunteers, community groups, organisations and residents who work throughout the year to make their local areas greener, cleaner and more attractive places to live, work and visit.
The In Bloom programme is now managed by the Town Council via the Greener Together group, which brings together local organisations, community groups and partners to deliver environmental improvements across the town.
Sarah Harris, Town Clerk added:
” Through our Greener Together partnership, we have extended the town centre planting this year and transformed areas on Kingsway and the Railway Station, with further improvements to these areas and new projects being planned for early 2027. The transformation at the Railway Station alone has seen over ten different groups and organisations contribute, including the college and schools. The judges commented on the strong engagement and partnership working which Bishop Auckland has built, showing that the success at the 2026 Northumbria In Bloom Awards is one for all to share, as it has been a collective effort by many all working together to make a difference in Bishop Auckland. We look forward to inviting those involved in our partnerships to come together for a celebration of their achievements in October”.
Bishop Auckland Town Council would like to thank all volunteers, residents, businesses, community groups and partners who continue to contribute to making the town a greener and more welcoming place for everyone.
