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Press Release

7 May 2024

Fareham in Bloom competition open for entries

Fareham Borough Council would like to invite green-fingered residents to enter this year’s Fareham in Bloom community gardening competition.

Sponsored by St Margaret’s Nurseries and EcoSupport, the competition opens for entries today until Tuesday 2 July. Displays of any size can be entered in the challenge, with the following five categories to choose from:

Best Garden – a residential garden of any size, front or back. We encourage natural lawns as opposed to artificial grass
Businesses and schools – Shop fronts, pubs, cafes, restaurants, businesses, schools, children's nurseries
Something Small - Hanging baskets, window boxes, potted plants, small, unusual garden features, a small area of open space
Community - An area of open space within a road/street that the community looks after, community centres, sheltered housing grounds, care/retirement homes, outdoor communal areas
Sustainable Garden - Planting to encourage wildlife, grow your own fruit and vegetables, allotments, recycling materials and using minimal resources

Entrants simply complete a short online form, together with a brief description, and submit one photograph, by the closing date. The exception to this is the Community category, where up to three photographs may be submitted. Anyone who lives, or has a business in, the Borough is eligible to enter this free competition and each entrant will receive a 10% discount voucher for St Margaret’s Nurseries.

After the closing date, entries will be subject to a public vote. The two displays receiving the highest votes in each category will be visited in August by a member of the judging panel, along with a community volunteer, in order to determine the winner. However, entries in the Something Small category will be judged by photographs and description alone and will not receive a visit.

An annual subscription to the Council's Garden Waste Scheme will be awarded to the winner of Best Garden. Winners in the remaining categories will each receive a £30 voucher for St Margaret’s Nurseries and the runners up will each be awarded a £15 voucher.

A new, additional prize has been created this year called the Mayor’s Gold Award in celebration of the Borough’s 50th anniversary in 2024. The winning entries in each category will be put forward to the Mayor for judging, who will pick the best entry overall. The winner of the Mayor’s Gold Award will receive a £50 voucher for St Margaret’s Nurseries in addition to the prize they received for winning in their category.

A special reception for all winners will take place in the Mayor’s Parlour in September.

Executive Member for Streetscene at Fareham Borough Council, Councillor Ian Bastable, said:

“Getting creative with plants and nature is not only an enjoyable pastime, but it has significant benefits for individuals and the broader community. With the addition of this year’s unique Mayor’s Gold Award, there is no better time for residents and local businesses to be recognised for their efforts in the Borough's 50th year!”

For more information and full details of how to enter visit: www.fareham.gov.uk/inbloom.

ENDS