Virtual town bloom 2022 announced
By Connor Steel
FAREHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL has encouraged green fingered residents to enter the town’s virtual ‘In Bloom’ competition again this summer, confirming that all entries were open for six individual categories until early July as it continues its long tradition since being founded 25 years ago.
Although virtual for the 3rd successive year after Covid-19 the gardening and floristry themed contest has something for everyone no matter the size of their outdoor site or ability, the six categories showing a real variety for competitors. This includes the popular contests from previous years such as Best Garden (a garden of any size, front or back), Commercial (Shop fronts, pubs, businesses, and schools) and Something Small (Hanging baskets, window boxes or unusual garden features).
The remaining three categories have also been confirmed as Community Floral Display (Your street, community centre or sheltered housing grounds), Young Green Fingers (Something the children have planted or grown) and finally Sustainable Garden (Planting to encourage wildlife, grow your own veg, recycling materials and using minimal resources).
Organisers have also confirmed that entries are free and open to anyone, but must live or have a business registered in the Fareham Borough Councils boundaries. To enter people are asked to simply complete a short online form with a brief description and upload one photograph of their entry by Friday 8 July.
The public will then be asked to vote for their favourite photo in each category via an online form or emailing inbloom@fareham.gov.uk. This voting will start on July 18 (Monday) and finish eleven days later on July 29 (Friday), with the top two making the next stage running throughout August.
This will see a member of the judging panel and a community volunteer visit the two finalists of each category, with the winner chosen based on what they hear the judges view and hear from the entrants. An only exception will be the ‘Something Small’ category which will not have a visit, instead being judged purely on the single photo and description submitted when first entering.
Winners will each receive a prize which will be presented to them, along with a certificate, at a special reception in the Mayor’s Parlour at the Civic Offices in Fareham. Prizes have been offered by the two competition sponsors, Fareham Shopping Centre and St Margaret’s Nurseries’ include vouchers, tools and an annual subscription to the Council’s Garden Waste scheme.
For more information, terms and conditions and full details of how to enter the competition, readers are encouraged to visit: www.fareham.gov.uk/inbloom or contact the council on inbloom@fareham.gov.uk.
PICTURED: Advertising poster announcing this year’s virtual ‘In Bloom’ competition across Fareham.
