Blooming marvellous

Britain in Bloom encourages communities to improve their surroundings. Top Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Judges are preparing to travel to all four corners of the UK, in a two-week whirlwind judging tour to find the 2008 RHS Britain in Bloom winners.

From the August 4-15, the 14 judges will be appraising green spaces, floral displays and communal parks, as they visit the 69 towns, villages and cities, all in a bid to find the best of blooming Britain.

Roger Burnett, Chair of the RHS Britain in Bloom judges, said: “The national judges will be looking for excellence in floral and permanent planting, how issues surrounding conservation and recycling are being addressed, together with environmental quality. They will also want to know how Britain in Bloom is being promoted at a local level and meeting this year’s theme of Local Roots.”

The RHS Local Roots Award is a special discretionary award presented to the community that best encourages activities and links between their local history and/or cultural diversity, within the wider community.

Banbury, finalists in the large town category, held a mulberry tree planting ceremony at its Peoples’ Park, to mark the 400th anniversary of its town charter. While the Surrey village of Limpsfield reflected their local roots by remembering famous composers buried in the local churchyard. The village has been planted up in the colours taken from the ‘musicians’ stained-glass window at St Peters Church.

Finalists have been imaginative and creative in remembering their community’s past or recognising its present cultural diversity and one special winner will receive the RHS Local Roots Discretionary Award. All the winners will be revealed at the RHS Britain in Bloom Awards Presentation at the Chester Race Course on September 24.

Roger Burnett said: “The judging teams are really looking forward to visiting this year’s national finalists to see first hand just what a huge difference their efforts are making in creating a more pleasant environment for all communities to live in.

“We will be looking for how local issues, which affect everyday life, are being addressed 365 days a year through community horticulture. For example, planting up a run down area in a city centre can cut petty crime.”

Britain in Bloom, organised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and supported by Shredded Wheat, is the largest horticultural campaign and competition in Europe. It encourages people to create long-lasting improvements to their local environments through horticultural achievement, community participation and environmental responsibility.

Winners must demonstrate outstanding efforts in all of the four pillars of the Britain in Bloom campaign – horticultural enthusiasm, environmental friendliness, community involvement and sustainability.

30.07.08