Best Kept Village

Best Kept Small Village Award Ceremony on Sunday, 21st September 2025 at 11:00am. The celebrations began with a short award ceremony at the Old Churchyard with  the unveiling of a new 7-foot standard to mark our status as Wiltshire’s Best Kept Small Village 2025. The presentation of the Standard and Shield was made by Anne Henshaw, Chair of Wiltshire CPRE.

We were delighted to welcome several distinguished guests to help us celebrate: our MP John Glenn, the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire Dame Sarah Troughton, the High Sheriff Martin Nye, and Cllr Laura Mayes, Chair of Wiltshire Council.

Judges verdict: Swallowcliffe is a small village with a big heart.  For a small community there is so much on offer, congratulations. Communication is excellent with a welcome pack for newcomers, (one family were moving in on our visit so will no doubt benefit from this) together with all the information on the newsletter, WhatsApp group, website both village and Parish Council and many other ways of keeping in touch.  The three noticeboards were up to date to aid those without technology. 

There are a great selection of activities during the year using the pub, village hall and private gardens too to encourage and include all the parishioners, well done.  

This is much to recommend the many projects and aims of the village.  The conservation areas are well managed including the graveyards and were neat and tidy on our visit.  The footpaths are all well marked out and seem to be well used and the wildlife corridor with the village stream is most attractive, and good to read that the stream is regularly cleared to keep the water flowing. Although this runs through many private gardens the villagers can benefit from the areas open to the public.  

All the gardens, verges and roadsides were well kept, and litter free and the map and information provided for the judges were most helpful and all the places of interest well marked and easy to follow. We loved the book swap in the old phone box!