24/09/2026
FILBY IS CROWNED OVERALL WINNER OF ANGLIA IN BLOOM 2026 Small village, extraordinary achievement - Filby takes the top honour across the whole of the East of England.
There are moments when a village can truly celebrate what it has achieved together - and this is one of those moments.
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For our small village to receive this prestigious recognition against communities from across the East of England is an extraordinary achievement. The East of England is home to more than 6.6 million people, encompassing Cities, Towns and Villages of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
Yet it is little Filby, with its Tiny close knit community and small platoon of enthusiastic volunteers, that has taken the Overall Winner title.
This achievement belongs to the whole community. It belongs to the volunteers who plant, water, w**d and maintain our displays and litter pick. It belongs to those who quietly work behind the scenes, often without recognition. It belongs to local organisations, businesses and residents who have supported the village.
And it belongs to everyone who has contributed, in whatever way, to making Filby such a special place for Horticultural Achievement, Environmental Responsibility and Community Participation.
Three times best Village in the UK and now Overall Winner of Anglia in Bloom 2026 is therefore much more than an award. It is recognition of community spirit.It is recognition of voluntary effort.It is recognition of pride in our village.
What makes Filby different? Perhaps it is the sheer enthusiasm and commitment of the people involved. Filby has always had something special - our attractive Broads, clean air, big skies, wonderful walks and, of course, our outstanding floral displays. For over 30 years, the village has worked towards achieving the highest standards in village competitions.
What began many years ago as an enthusiastic but relatively inexperienced attempt has developed into something far greater. Over the years, we have learned from those who came before us, including past members whose contribution helped establish the foundations on which today's success has been built. Their knowledge, together with advice from visiting judges and the continuing enthusiasm of today's volunteers, has helped Filby grow from strength to strength.
From Filby to our neighbouring villages But our ambition has never been simply about Filby. FIBT has worked with neighbouring communities including Caister, Ormesby, Fleggburgh, Runham, Mautby and Stokesby, helping to spread the benefits of floral and environmental improvements beyond our own village. Thousands upon thousands of spring bulbs have been planted by local volunteers, followed by spring and summer bedding. Dog-waste bins have also been provided, alongside other improvements undertaken with the support of local organisations.
The philosophy has always been simple: If we can make our own community better, why not help our neighbours do the same? A village with a story Filby is not simply a beautiful village. It has a fascinating history. From its connections with the ancient landscape of Flegg and the nearby Roman settlement at Caister, to its former market-gardening industry and the famous raspberries that once travelled from Filby towards London's markets, the village has a story worth celebrating.
Even the old Jam Shed, which has stood for more than 150 years, has become part of that story - now given a new lease of life with its colourful living wall. And today, social media has helped Filby share that story far beyond the village. Our page regularly reaches thousands of people, across the world, with visitors leaving hundreds of wonderful comments about their experiences of coming through or stopping in Filby. Some even tell us they deliberately take the longer route through the village simply because they enjoy the atmosphere.
Above all, it is recognition that small communities can achieve extraordinary things when people work together. So, to every person who has planted a bulb, pulled a w**d, watered a flower, painted, picked up a piece of paper, donated, organised, encouraged, supported or simply stopped to admire what has been created: THANK YOU. This award belongs to all of you. If anyone is thinking of moving home and finding somewhere new to Live Move to Filby and Get More out of Life!
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