HERTFORDSHIRE VILLAGE OF THE YEAR COMPETITION

   JUDGES' SUMMARY REPORT 2004

 

JUDGING THE COMPETITION

 

 

 

Written Submissions and Visits Itinerary

Core judges receive copies of all written submissions in the competition, and award provisional markings for each category entered. These are reviewed at the preliminary judging meeting, and an itinerary of visits drawn up. All villages entering the competition are visited by a mixed-sex team of three judges, including a 'core' judge. At the end of each judging day, each team reassesses the provisional markings. At the end of the final judging day, the judges gather to arrive at the final marks.  The Village of the Year East and West and the Small Village of the Year are awarded to villages which perform exceptionally well across the board. Once chosen, they are eliminated from the category prizes.

 

This gives some idea of the care taken to reach extremely difficult decisions. Each year the judges are humbled by the amount of work put in to village life by so many people. There is a huge diversity, yet villages work to the same end - a vibrant and thriving community.

 

What the Judges look for on a visit

á       Is the atmosphere of the presentation positive and friendly?

á       Are there activities in the village which cater for all age groups and interests?

á       Is the Parish Council forward looking? Does it consult villagers?

á       Is there a hands-on attitude to the environment or do outside bodies do it all?

á       Do businesses contribute to the life and activities in the village?

á       Are community and environmental projects developing?

á       Are people's needs being identified and tackled?

 

Category Prizes

Each category carries its own prize (listed on the results sheet), so villages can start small and build up.  Since the general standard is so high, what the judges look for is the exceptional.  Almost all villages do a great deal in the categories they enter. Bullet-pointed below are points over and above the norm which  particularly impressed the judges in this year's winners:

Environment

á       Conservation management and wildlife areas

á       Hedge-planting

á       Productive allotments

á       Wildlife areas which are accessible by everyone

Winner: Potten End                               Commendation:                  Pirton 

              

Business

á       Parish Councils sourcing their requirements from local businesses

á       Local business sponsorship for village activities

á       Local business provision of free goods and services for village activities

á       Sympathetic conversion of buildings and shopfronts to minimize impact on the environment

Winner: Woolmer Green                          Commendation: Tewin

 

Young People

á       Volunteer-run tween- and teenager activities, e.g. Venture Scouts, Scouts, Guides; Youth Clubs

á       Identifying needs and stimulating the interests of tween- and teenagers 


á       Involvement of young people in decisions about village life

á       Active encouragement of young people to take part in village affairs and take responsibility to solve their own problems

á       Winner: Pirton                                     Commendation: Bricket Wood


Older People

á       Fellow villagers caring for the needs of older people as good neighbours

á       Fellow villagers ensuring older people are involved in village activities

á       Older people reaching across the generations in every aspect of village life from Church, to Parish Council to School

Winner:  Ickleford                                Commendation: Widford

 

Community Life

á       Community Pub

á       Continuing expansion of community activities

á       Introduction of a speed indicating device and a transport survey of all village households

á       Participation in national and district government sponsored schemes to help rural communities

Winner:  Flamstead                                        Commendation:         Preston

 

SMALL VILLAGE OF THE YEAR

á       Constant development of new initiatives and activities, e.g. a Village appraisal which identified the need for a gardening club, now formed with over 50 members

á       Disabled audit of Village Hall

á       Excellent presentational skills: each judge taken to 2 key sites in village, followed by brief presentations in the village hall by key members of the community and refreshments

Small Village of the Year: Brickendon Liberty

 

VILLAGE OF THE YEAR WEST

á       Community problem-solving: e. g. successful lobbying of County Council for Secondary school places

á       Working together to maximise the potential of the village green as a village amenity, including a wild flower area for all and kingfishers on the river

á       Caring attitude, supportive businesses, pride in community

Village of the Year West: Redbourn

 

VILLAGE OF THE YEAR EAST

á       Great strides in improving community life over the last three years

á       Desire to keep village identity

Village of the Year East and Nominee to the Calor Gas Village of the Year Competition England and Wales: Hunsdon

 

IT NOMINEE TO CALOR VILLAGE OF THE YEAR

á       Comprehensive and user-friendly web-site

á       IT training

á       Public internet access

IT Nominee:   Brookmans Park

 

JUDGES' SPECIAL AWARD

Donated by Village of the Year Judge Margaret Peterkin, this cut glass rosebowl is awarded at the discretion of the judges to an individual or organisation who has made a special contribution to his/her village community. Since its introduction, it has been won by a pub Landlord in Furneux Pelham who allows young people the use of his pool table and a volunteer litter picker in Woolmer Green. This year it goes to an individual who not only works tirelessly for her village but inspires others with her enthusiasm                                                                                                        

Winner: Stella Welsh of Furneux Pelham