Britain in Bloom
Judging for the 50th national finals of RHS Britain in Bloom gets under way (28 July – 8 August)
City of London’s green-fingered volunteers have been busy putting the finishing touches to their Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom campaign in preparation for the judges’ imminent arrival on Tuesday 29 July 2014.
Last summer, 71 locations were selected to represent their region/nation in this year’s final, each hoping to score top marks and be announced category winner at the awards ceremony in Bristol on 16 October 2014. City of London is in the Champion of Champions category, alongside Ahoghill, Glenrothes, Shrewsbury and Woolton (Liverpool).
This year the UK’s largest community gardening campaign celebrates its 50th anniversary and thousands of volunteers in cities, towns and villages across the country have been busy ‘Growing for Gold’ in celebration of this momentous year.
There are more than 3,900 Bloom groups throughout Britain whose work benefits millions of UK residents by keeping our neighbourhoods and streets green, clean and thriving.
RHS judges Mark Wasilewski and Brendan Mowforth will meet community representatives and go on a tour of local projects, assessing In Bloom campaigns against three key criteria: horticultural achievement, community participation and environmental responsibility. Communities hope to receive a Bronze, Silver, Silver-Gilt or Gold award, depending on their level of achievement.
For one year only, BBC Great Allotment Challenge Judge and former head judge of the Bloom campaign, Jim Buttress returns to the panel and along with his fellow judges will be inspecting everything from the usual bedding displays to local recycling initiatives as well as areas of natural habitat and conservation. Communities will also be awarded for their sustainable practices and inventive schemes to raise money to fund projects.
Judges will also be taking sustainable practices and inventive schemes to raise money to fund projects into account.
Andrea Van Sittart, RHS Head of Regional Development said: “The groups that have made it to the final stages represent the very best in community gardening and it is their passion and community spirit that have got them this far. I wish all the finalists the very best of luck and urge more people to get involved in the campaign so that we can continue to grow on the success of the last 50 years.”
To find out more about the power of community gardening or to join almost 4,000 RHS Britain in Bloom groups already involved, visit: www.rhs.org.uk/communities
About the RHS
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 by Sir Joseph Banks and John Wedgwood for the encouragement and improvement of the science, art and practice of horticulture. We held our first flower shows in 1820, were granted a Royal Charter in 1861 and acquired RHS Garden Wisley, the first of our gardens, in 1903. From our first meetings in a small room off London’s Piccadilly, we have grown to become the world’s largest gardening charity.
Today the RHS is committed to providing a voice for all gardeners. We are driven by a simple love of plants and a belief that gardeners make the world a better place. 210 years on we continue to safeguard and advance the science, art and practice of horticulture, creating displays that inspire people to garden. In all aspects of our work we help gardeners develop by sharing our knowledge of plants, gardens and the environment.
RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262
