Lancashire Best Kept Village Competition

Competition Criteria

Who can enter?

The Lancashire Best Kept Village Competition is open to Local Authorities, Parish Councils, Residents' Associations, Village Hall Committees, Women's Institutes or any other organisation that can get the support and involvement of the rest of the village and its inhabitants.

There are six entry classes based on the population size of the village:

• Large Village Class - Population 2,001 to 8,000 with 8 or more amenities (see entry form for amenities*).
• Medium Village Class - Population 1,001 to 2,000 with 6 or more amenities.
• Small Village Class - population 401 to 1,000 with 5 or more amenities.
• Hamlet Class - population up to 400, with less than 4 amenities.
• Champion Class - Any winner of the above Classes (except the Hamlet Class).
  Winners will remain and be entered in this class for a further 4 competitions. The 4 years will apply whether or not the village makes an entry during this period.
• Urban Community Class - Larger Communities are encouraged to identify an area to enter – they may enter more than 1 area. Each area should be no more than the equivalent of up to 500m². This gives extra chances to win awards and also makes it easier for the judges who have a smaller area to judge. (Trialled at 'Tidy Towns' in 2023.)
• An amenity* is classed as a Church, Public Building, School, Community Noticeboard, etc. See Entry Form for details.

As well as looking for overall 'Best Kept Village' across the classes, replacing the 'Certificate of Merit', from 2019 'Outstanding Feature Award' entries are welcome and are judged across a number of categories covering external look and upkeep of specific areas and buildings, such as Churches, Schools, Public Halls, Shops, Children's Play Areas, Playing Fields, etc.

Outstanding Feature Award Entries

These are open to any village entering the main competition and can be used to persuade more people to enter into the spirit of the Competition. Judging for these entries is in addition to the main competition, adding to demands on judges, villages are restricted to a maximum of 10 entries and 1 entry per section. The winners of each category receiving a trophy and a certificate.

Sections available:

Awards

Whole Village Awards

The winners of the Hamlets, Small, Medium, Large Villages and the Champion Class Villages will receive a framed certificate and a plaque showing the name of the village, the village class and the year of the competition - to keep and display as they wish.

The winner of the Champion Class will also receive a trophy donated by the sponsor, the Lancashire Association of Local Councils. The trophy is held for one year and must be returned to the Secretary in August of the following year.

The runners-up in each of the village classes will receive a framed certificate - to keep and display as they wish.

Highly Commended or Commended certificates may be awarded to villages in any class at the discretion of the Committee.

A framed certificate can be awarded to the Best First Time Entry - highest marks in the First Round of Judging regardless of the village class.

Outstanding Features Awards

These are open to any village entering the main competition, and can be used as an incentive to persuade more villages to enter into the spirit of the Competition.

The winners of any of the Outstanding Features will receive a framed certificate they can retain and display for as long as they wish.

The Committee may award a Runner up, Highly Commended or Commended certificate where appropriate. Joint awards may be given where there is little difference between two or more entries.

Further information can be found in Village Entry Rules (2024).