Published Wednesday, 21st October 2026
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is celebrating another successful year in the region’s biggest horticulture event – South & South East In Bloom.
The Council’s bumper crop of seven Gold awards, include the recently refurbished Merstham Recreation Ground, which was also crowned the Winner of the Large Park category. The judges highlighted the ‘innovative’ sport and play facilities and the ‘fantastic’ parkour area and concluded that:
Picture credit - Blakedown Landscapes
“[Merstham Recreation Ground] is a joyful space and one which deserves to be celebrated. It is an inspiration to other local authorities and developers and shows what can be achieved with an innovative approach and expert ecological knowledge.”
Other parks in the borough receiving South & South East In Bloom Gold awards are Priory Park in Reigate and Redhill Memorial Park. Local country parks receiving Gold are Earlswood Common and Tanyard Meadow, and Reigate Heath receives Gold in the conservation area category.
Redstone Cemetery in Redhill is the Council’s second highest scoring entry and was awarded Gold in the large cemetery category. The gardening team was praised by the judges for achieving “a balance between providing appropriate burial sites for the community paired with a sensitive and informed understanding of habitat creation and encouraging wildlife onto the site”.
Cllr Nadean Moses, Executive Member for Greenspaces and Sustainability, said: “I am so proud of our success in the 2026 South & South East in Bloom Awards, which is testament to the hard work of our dedicated Greenspaces team, as well as our amazing volunteers.
“I am particularly pleased that the significant investment made in the refurbishment of Merstham Rec has been recognised by the judges. This is a truly special place and a park that the whole community can enjoy.
“We have a responsibility to strike the right balance between providing welcoming community spaces for recreation, remembrance and wellbeing; and protecting and enhancing habitats where wildlife can thrive. By receiving gold awards for so many of our parks and countryside areas, we can be confident that we’re on the right track.”
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council also achieved Silver Gilt awards for Reigate Castle Grounds and Reigate Garden of Remembrance; and a Silver award for Lady Neville Recreation Ground in Banstead.