By Beehiveweb Newsroom
Southport has new gateway signs celebrating its Britain in Bloom Champion of Champions success after Sefton Council staff installed two permanent markers at key entry points to the town.
The signs read, “Sefton Council welcomes you to Southport” and carry the line “Britain in Bloom Champion of Champions”. They have been placed at the Plough Roundabout end of Preston New Road and at the Woodvale end of the Coast Road.
Southport’s national Bloom title
Southport In Bloom won the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom Overall Winner award in 2025, bringing the national title to Sefton for the first time since the award began in 1963.
The town also received a Gold Award and the Judge’s Highlight honour, while Southport was named Best Coastal Town at the awards ceremony in Brighton.
Sefton Council said the winning bid was built through work by council staff, volunteer groups and local businesses. Judges visited Southport during summer 2025, before the result was announced in October on BBC One’s The One Show.
Community work behind the signs
Cllr Joanne Williams, Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said the new signs were intended as a lasting reminder of the achievement.
She said Southport’s win showed the impact of people who “work hard to keep green spaces looking their best”, and added that she hoped those involved would feel pride when driving into the town.
The success was part of a wider year for Sefton’s In Bloom groups. Ainsdale, Bootle and Crosby and Waterloo also received Gold Award status from North West In Bloom, while community groups across the borough gained RHS In Your Neighbourhood awards.
More judging visits expected in Sefton
Judges are due to visit the borough again as local groups put forward planting and growing work for recognition in the 2026 awards season.
Cllr Williams said Sefton Council was “proud to support local community and volunteer groups” and encouraged more residents to find out about volunteering through the council.
Source: Sefton Council
Source check Source trail
This local report is based on Sefton Council’s published update about the new Southport signs and the 2025 Britain in Bloom result.
- Confirmed the wording reported for the new gateway signs.
- Matched the sign locations to Preston New Road and the Coast Road at Woodvale.
- Checked the award context against the council’s account of Southport In Bloom’s 2025 wins.
- Attributed the quoted comments to Cllr Joanne Williams.
- Source
- Sefton Council
- Scope
- Southport
- Updated
- 2026-06-01 14:59
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