Best Kept Village Competition
Published: 04 August 2025
The Parish Council is so proud and delighted to let you all know that Seer Green has won the DeFraine Cup for the Best Kept Village in our category. Not only that, but the village has also been awarded the Sword of Excellence for best overall winner of the 2025 Buckinghamshire Best Kept Village Competition.
Huge thanks are due to all volunteers and residents who gave up their time, as well as to the Pubs, Churches, businesses and the contractors we work with, who all made such an effort to ensure that the village looked its best for the judges. This was truly a team effort and the wonderful result is a fitting tribute to everyone who lent a hand.
The presentation by the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire will take place on the 20th September. Thank you all so much!
Liz Hungin, Chairman, Seer Green Parish Council
Seer Green has won the DeFraine Cup this year with a mark of 198 out of 200. The Judges Marks and Notes are below:-
Buckinghamshire Best Kept Village
Competition 2025 – DeFraine Cup
|
VILLAGE/TOWN: SEER
GREEN
|
Score
|
Possible
Marks
|
1
|
Cemetery/graveyard
(separate or attached to a place of worship)
|
Beautifully
maintained Cemetery by dedicated volunteers.
A well-tended, peaceful place with good seating. Damage
from fallen trees being carefully restored.
|
20
|
20
|
2
|
Green,
playing field, children’s play area, outdoor recreation facilities,
designated nature conservation area
|
The green by
Village Hall tidy and well maintained.
Good to see the watering system for new tree planting. Good paths, tree stump left as part of play
equipment. Playing field area
immaculate with good seating provision. Well defined nature areas in Holy Trinity Church yard.
|
35
|
35
|
3
|
Floral
displays, hanging baskets, tubs, planters, flower beds etc
|
Beautifully
planted and well maintained flower troughs at entrances to village.
Attractive flower baskets outside both Pubs.
|
14
|
15
|
4
|
Community
facilities (Village Hall, Community Centre, Church Hall
|
Jubilee Hall
excellent. Car park tidy – no sign of
litter. Volunteers setting up coffee shop/meeting
space with opportunity for support services at Holy Trinity Church with
tables and chairs in the churchyard.
Supported by Clare Foundation.
|
20
|
20
|
5
|
General
environmental features (hedges, verges, ditches, pond, stream, pump etc.)
|
Very good.
Hedges well cut, verges tidy.
Beautiful rose arch at entrance to Jubilee Walk. Allotments well
managed and maintained.
|
20
|
20
|
6
|
Shops and
Pubs
|
Three
Horseshoes refurbished. Both pubs look
attractive with good flower baskets. Minor litter outside the shops, but
attractive flower troughs.
|
19
|
20
|
7
|
Bus stops, bus shelters, public seating, dog
bins, notice boards, information signs
|
Bus stops clean and tidy. Notice boards up to date.
|
20
|
20
|
8
|
War memorial
(Please include a photograph if the memorial is inside a locked building)
|
Beautifully maintained
by dedicated volunteers, who had made wooden soldier cutouts on display at
the memorial.
|
20
|
20
|
9
|
Quality of
Competition entry - up to date and detailed map with features highlighted
|
Very good map submitted with all relevant areas clearly
marked.
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
Evidence of
community engagement (eg website, newsletter, magazine, posters and general
community involvement in the Competition)
|
Very
informative PC website – easy to navigate. Many examples of volunteers
looking after and improving their village.
All happy to talk to us, and showed a pride in the community. Annual volunteer award.
|
20
|
20
|
|
Additional
Notes
|
Great
community feel throughout the village.
|
198
|
200
|