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£15 entry contribution
£5 entry contribution
Forms for the 2006 competition will be available from February 2006, with entries closing on the 30th April 2006.
We are introducing two new initiatives for 2006, Neighbourhood Awards and the Biodiversity Award. The Special Awards from 2005 are also being continued in 2006. Click on the links for further information.
For an excellent guide to the competition specifications, please link through to the RHS web site. More helpful links are lower on that page, so read all the way down.
The Neighbourhood Award has now been introduced in addition to the main competition as a new and unique initiative for small, resident-led communities just starting out on the ‘greening up’ of their local areas. The scheme assists and rewards communities making improvements in local streets and open green spaces for the benefit of local people. This is an important step in extending the “in Bloom” ethic to either parts of existing entrants’ locality that have been neglected, or to new potential entrants who aspire to improve their local environment.
The Neighbourhood Awards are non-competitive, welcoming groups taking the first steps towards community regeneration. While entries are not judged against each other, they are visited by environmental and horticultural ‘in Bloom’ experts over the summer months who provide valuable feedback and helpful advice on how to develop current activities and encourage on-going improvements. Following the visit, each community will receive either an Award of Improvement, Merit or Outstanding Achievement, depending on the extent to which participants have met the Neighbourhood Award aims.
Neighbourhoods will typically be resident led groups, aiming to achieve long-term improvements to their local area through horticultural, environmental and cleanliness initiatives. There will be substantial involvement from the community and projects will be on a small scale and with a limited budget. Neighbourhoods may well be, or have been, areas of regeneration with challenges to overcome such environmental problems as litter, graffiti, vandalism, poor maintenance, fly-tipping, fly-posting, derelict housing and/or derelict land.
We encourage your involvement in this new initiative, and will be giving further details at our forthcoming Seminars in March. See the News page for the dates and locations of the Seminars
Cumbria in Bloom is supporting the 2006 Britain in Bloom
Biodiversity theme, whose aims are to recognise the efforts made by Britain
in Bloom communities in supporting and increasing biodiversity throughout the
UK in both domestic and community gardens, and within parks, gardens, allotments
and other green spaces managed by local authorities.
The award recognises the significance of gardens to biodiversity and encourages
participating Cumbria in Bloom entries to engage with the theme. They can do
this by considering the combination of habitats and soils, and by incorporating
a range of habitats for wildlife, as well as creating beautiful environments
beneficial to people.
The award is a one-off accolade to be presented to the Cumbria in Bloom 2006
Finalist who best demonstrates the contribution they have made to benefit the
biodiversity of the local area. Further information will be provided at the
Cumbria in Bloom seminars being held around the County in March. See the News
page for details of the seminars.
Cumbria in Bloom wishes to recognise the outstanding contributions that people are making to further the aims of the competition.
‘Special Awards’ are being given to selected categories for ‘Outstanding Contributions’ towards an entry into the Cumbria in Bloom competition. Only one entry can be accepted from each category.
Nominations must be made by the organising ‘In Bloom’ group and handed to the judges on arrival. Please plan the route to give time for special category nominations to be judged during the visit.
The special categories are:
Entries may include, farm, caravan site, pet care centre, business Park, chemical and heavy industry, creative workshop.
Displays should be visible to the passing public and to visitors to the industry.
Nominations should be selected for high quality maintenance, good and original design, and visual impact. Displays can be formed from hard and soft landscaping, planting of trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs and annuals. Areas that are maintained to promote conservation can be included.
Entries may include banks, offices, shops, public houses, cafes, and restaurants.
Judges will look for impact on the street scene and themes that show good colour, design, and quality.
Hanging basket and container displays must be kept watered, weeded, and tidy.
Judges will look for good design layout of garden that allows easy access for residents use. Gardens should be interesting and combining good form, shape, and colour. Paths should be clean and well maintained and appropriate attention be given to lawns, hedges, and plants. Special features (ponds, shelters, bird table, pergolas, arbours, seats, etc.) will be considered in the overall impact marks.
See the Young People in Bloom page for details.
This is awarded to any outstanding display that is not covered by the above headings or the tourist board categories.
The entries could be, a community garden, a street or part of a street, a group of shops/offices, a private garden in a prime location, any community project that supports the aims of Cumbria in Bloom.
Nominations in this category must be of a high quality and must complement the local In Bloom entry.
Royal Horticultural Society | University of Central Lancashire | Cumbria Tourist Board | North West Development Agency | Rural Regeneration Cumbria | Jennings Brewery | Lake District National Park Authority
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