Moulton has been named Richmond Rotary Club’s Best Kept Village 2026, reclaiming the title it last won in 2023.
The annual competition, now in its 18th year, celebrates villages that excel in appearance, community spirit and care for the local environment.
Scorton received the award for encouraging community life, while West Scrafton and Aldbrough St John were recognised for promoting wildlife and the natural environment. Brompton-on-Swale was the highest-ranked of this year’s new entrants.
Competition organiser Rotarian Jos Huddleston said the standard of entries had once again been exceptionally high.
“We send out judges to all the villages during the same two weeks in July, and they score each village on ten criteria ranging from public spaces and private gardens to the condition of bus shelters, shops, guest houses and inns,” he said.
“There is also a special emphasis on the encouragement of wildlife and on all the effort to enrich community life. Villages without some features are not penalised.
“After the first scoring all judgements are reviewed and a second visit by different judges is organised to the leading group of villages, to be sure that the scores are accurate.”
Mr Huddleston praised the enthusiasm shown by every village that entered, regardless of whether they won an award.
Moulton Parish Council chairman John Gentry accepted the £400 winner’s prize on behalf of the village.
He said: “Thank you to Richmond Rotary Club for giving their time and donating prizes, and also big thanks to all our villagers for keeping Moulton looking so beautiful all year round. Working to win this contest is a real team effort.”
Richmond Rotary Club president Ian Hepworth presented the award and said he was delighted the competition continued to inspire communities to take pride in where they live.
“There is every reason to be proud of the area where we live, and all our beautiful villages well deserve the recognition that Rotary gives them through this annual competition,” he said.
Full results:
- First Prize £400, the Richmond Rotary Best Kept Village 2026: Moulton
- Award for the encouragement of Community Activity – £100: Scorton
- Award for the encouragement of the Natural Environment and Wildlife 2x £60: West Scrafton and Aldbrough St John
- Highest placed new entrant £100: Brompton on Swale
- Highly Recommended overall: West Burton, Melsonby and Bellerby.
- Highly Recommended for the encouragement of the Natural Environment and Wildlife: Colburn Village.
