A competition promising to highlight the beauty and community spirit of villages and towns has been launched across the county.
The Nottinghamshire Best Kept Village Competition 2024 aims to recognise the efforts of local communities in caring for their environments.
Parish and town councils can apply and this year, entry to the competition is free for all villages with a population of under 10,000.
It is organised by Notts Campaign to Protect Rural England with support from Notts Association of Local Councils and Notts Rural Community Action Network.
Robert Jenrick, MP for Newark, said: “The Best Kept Village Competition is a great opportunity to celebrate our rural communities and the dedication of residents in preserving and enhancing their local environment.
“I encourage all parish councils in the constituency to enter and am confident that we will be well represented on the category awards list.”
The competition offers four categories based on size and winners from each category will vie for the title of – Best in Notts.
Councils who wish to apply can visit the competition page on the Nottinghamshire Association of Local Councils website.
A village map, however rudimentary, must be uploaded with each entry to delineate village boundaries for the judges.
Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Sir John Peace, said: “I am delighted that CPRE will once again be running the Best Kept Village Competition in Nottinghamshire, this time with the support of Notts ALC and RCAN.
“We are fortunate to live in a county rich in communities that take pride in their surroundings and I’m sure the judges will find their task very difficult.
“I look forward to seeing the competition showcase our wonderful villages over the coming months and encourage all parish councils to enter.”
Lowdham, Coddington, Everton and East Drayton were all category winners in the Nottinghamshire Best Kept Village Competition 2023.
Peter Holland, lead organiser of the competition for CPRE, added: “The organisers recognise the level of community involvement and the care for the natural and built environment which turns a settlement into a living village.
“Our judges are looking for evidence of general community involvement and signs of care for the village by those who live there.
“Every village has a chance of winning a prize.”
