Wildlife television presenter Richard Taylor-Jones has pledged his support to the Deal in Bloom working group as it works towards gaining gold status for the town’s floral beauty.

Each year since 2014, Deal has entered South and South East in Bloom, gaining one silver and two silver gilt awards.

Last year, it was invited to enter Britain in Bloom for the first time, also winning silver gilt.

The chairman of the group, Cllr Marlene Burnham, has this week announced that the town will be taking part in the competitions again this year.

She is hoping, with the help of some new members including Mr Taylor-Jones, that it can get its hands on the elusive gold certificate.

She said: “This year, 2017, will hopefully be the year we achieve the gold award, with the help of the working group central members, other interested individuals from Dover District Council and English Heritage, two new co-opted members Keith and Janet Haines, the gardening group at Goodwin Academy and also with the participation at times he can be available from Countryfile photographer Richard Taylor-Jones.

“We’ve got a strong team. This could be our best year yet,” she said

Mr Taylor-Jones, who lives in Deal, is a wildlife television presenter, film-maker, cameraman and photographer. He appears on BBC Countryfile, The One Show, Coast and Springwatch.

He told the Mercury: “The Deal in Bloom team are an incredibly enthusiastic and driven group who are determined to make the very best of our lovely seaside town.

“I am very proud to have grown up here and still call it my home, so when the team asked me if I could help them look at how to make this year’s efforts more environmentally and wildlife friendly I was of course delighted to help.

“I hope we can explore ideas of using native flowers that will be a good nectar source for our butterflies and bees, perhaps persuade them that sometimes a bit of mess is a good thing – wildlife loves some long grass and I think we should be persuading the judges that a bit of rough is a blooming marvellous idea for wildlife.

“It will be interesting to hear what pesticides and fertilisers they use and seeing if we can come up with ideas to make sure these don’t damage the environment.

“Most of all, I’d love to see if we could build a pond in a public place and have a wonderful show of watery wildflowers. Ponds are just brilliant for wildlife and Deal doesn’t have a decent one that I can think of in a public space.

“It’s going to be a fascinating process and I look forward to helping in any way I can.”

Deal will compete against other small coastal towns from Kent to Dorset with a population of between 12,000 and 35,000 people.

Cllr Burnham is starting the campaign early to ensure as many people as possible are involved, including businesses and schools.

Preparation for the competitions starts as early as October, with about 1,500 hours of work dedicated to meetings, communication and route planning.

Judges will visit in July and August. This year new focus will be given to Victoria Park, North Deal Playing Field and South Street, which judges have not previously seen.

Other areas that will be included in the three-hour tour of the town are the Mary Hougham Almshouses, Alfred Square, Portobello Court, Sandown School, the train station and Deal fire station.

The entertainment square in Beach Street, maintained by the trio of Dunkerleys, The Kings Head and the Port Arms, as well as Sandown Castle Gardens, are particular highlights.

This year, the working group hope to buy new covers to improve the appearance of the planters along the promenade, as well as rally High Street businesses.

The owner of Stitches in Deal High Street, Louise Butler, has pledged to decorate her window with knitted or crocheted flowers.

She is going to encourage other members of the Chamber of Trade to do their bit, too.

The group also plan to produce a professional portfolio with the help of a graphic design artist – an additional item, not a requirement, that they hope will help towards their successful campaign.

Cllr Burnham said: “Last year, I think we only needed nine more points to get gold. We can achieve that this year.”