Seend crowned Wiltshire’s Best Kept Large Village

Seend has been named Wiltshire’s Best Kept Large Village in a national competition run by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

The village came first in the Large Village category, scoring 83 points for tidiness, cleanliness, presentation, conservation and community spirit.

Judges from the Wiltshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England and from Wiltshire Council visited each village in the competition during May and June.

Other areas recognised in the Large Village category include Box, in second place; Alderbury, in third; and Staverton, in fourth.

An extract from the judges’ report said of Seend, “The church and graveyard are worthy of an award all of its own, with wonderful beds either side of the path and fabulous trees. There have been numerous nature-friendly initiatives and the whole village feels cared for.”

Seend will be presented with an eight-foot standard with mounted shield, which the village can keep for a year. An award ceremony will be held on Sunday 21st September, when the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Dame Sarah Troughton DStJ, will draw back the Union Flag to unveil the shield. Commemorative plaques will also be presented.

Leader of Wiltshire Council, Cllr Ian Thorn, said, “Thank you to everyone who took part in this year’s Best Kept Village competition, and congratulations in particular to all our winning villages. Your hard work and pride in your communities truly shine through.

“Although the competition has now finished, the spirit of village pride doesn’t have to. If you’re still keen to make a difference locally, we’re here to help, whether it’s organising a litter pick, sweeping paths, or other small but meaningful actions to keep your village looking its best. To find out more about getting involved in your area, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/litter.”