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Guildford in Bloom 2024
Opens for Entries 

With grateful thanks to our
Premium Sponsors

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Our 2024 Competition will soon be OPEN FOR ENTRIES - with our 2024 theme WILD ABOUT A GREENER GUILDFORD.

This year - all gardens will earn points for biodiversity, greening, areas for wildlife and care for pollinators.

Download your entry form here

 

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List of Categories:

Best Front Garden - Sponsored by Sally Rule Property

Your garden must be visible to the public from the footpath.  It will be judged on design, colour, quality of plants, and all year-round interest.  Gardens will be divided into small or large category

Best Allotment & Vegetable/Kitchen Gardens - Sponsored by Guildford Allotment Society

Judged on the variety and quality of vegetables grown, evidence of good horticultural practice, use of space and sustainable management.  All allotment plots entered must have the plot number clearly on display or you may not be judged.

Best Garden for Wildlife - Sponsored by The URBOA Project (SCC)

Open to all gardens including businesses and smaller community projects where the design, choice of plants and management is especially welcoming to wildlife.

Nature Champions - Sponsored by Clandon Wood Nature Reserve and Natural Burial Ground
This category is suited to larger areas of private or public land, businesses and community groups  where the aim is to protect and conserve wildlife habitats and species population.

Best Pub, Restaurant or Business in Bloom - Sponsored by Guildford Pubwatch 

We are looking for a well balanced design, good use of colour and quality planting.

Best Container Garden - Sponsored by Guildford Financial

Open to balconies and gardens that are based on pots and baskets.  Must be visible to the public.

Best Neighbourhood Project

This category recognises projects that green up the local area and include those organised by sheltered accommodation, village halls, residents' associations, parish councils, voluntary groups, and charities etc.  Judges will be looking for good design, colour, and plant quality as well as input from residents or the community. (Take a look at Guildford Beekeeper Association Free Talks for Groups)

Best Themed Garden Award

This year our theme is Wild About a Greener Guildford.  The best themed garden, allotment, container or project will win the Dorothy Walden Award

Young Gardener Award

Awarded for entries from young people aged 11-21 years in full time education.

Best School in Bloom - Sponsored by Edwins Garden Centre

Guildford Schools in Bloom will also be following our Wild About a Greener Guildford theme - encouraging the children to create wildlife friendly areas within their school garden.  Note: dates of the school competition are different from the main competition.  Full details can be found on our Schools In Bloom page

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To find out more - read our Judging Criteria

2024 Theme - Wild About a Greener Guildford

With the aim of encouraging more wildlife to Guildford’s gardens such as plants that attract pollinators

This link may well help you: How to increase biodiversity in your garden - National Garden Scheme (ngs.org.uk)

Judges will also be looking for the following garden features - and for help there are some further links below to help you create them.

  1. A Nectar Café – plants for bees, butterflies and other pollinators

  2. Bug Hotel or log pile

  3. Bee B&B

  4. Water Source for birds and wildlife – making sure it includes stones so insects can climb out

  5. Pond

  6. Bird Feeder

  7. Bird House

  8. Hedgehog house

  9. Be part of a Hedgehog Corridor

  10. Wildflower area

We will also be looking for a plastic free environment unless the plastic item is being recycled i.e. milk bottles used as planters, plastic cloches, poly tunnels etc.  Additional points are given for Peat Free Gardens

 

To Help You

  1. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/best-plants-bees-and-pollinators

  2. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/09/how-to-build-a-bug-hotel/

  3. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/04/how-to-build-a-bee-hotel/

  4. https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-families/family-wild-challenge/activities/build-a-bird-bath/

  5. https://www.surreywildlifetrust.org/actions/how-create-mini-pond

  6. https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-kids/games-and-activities/activities/make-a-recycled-bird-feeder/

  7. https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-families/family-wild-challenge/activities/build-a-birdbox/

  8. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-hedgehog-home

  9. https://www.surreywildlifetrust.org/actions/how-create-hedgehog-hole

  10. https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/wildflower-meadow-establishment

Rules:

  • The Guildford in Bloom Gardening Competition is open to all borough residents, schools, community groups and businesses – anyone who loves gardening and wants to help make Guildford and our surrounding villages even more beautiful places to live, work and visit. 

  • Entries must be received by Sunday 23 June 2024; simply choose a category, let us know if you are a young gardener, choose to theme or not to theme, you can enter only one category per site/address; email your entry details to info@guildfordinbloom.com;

  • Judging takes place between 1-19 July 2024; it is not possible to advise individual entrants of the exact day and time of judging (with the exception of Kitchen Gardens, Wildlife Gardens, Nature Conservation and Neighbourhood Project categories); Read full Judging Criteria here

  • Judges will not be available to discuss individual entries; the judges' decision is final;

  • Winners will be notified by email and invited to the Awards Show which takes place in September 2024; a list of winners will be published on our website; photographs of your garden may be used for marketing purposes. Full details of the Awards Event will be announced in due course.

Nominate:

If you have a friend, neighbour, family member, local school or pub with a beautiful garden, you are welcome to nominate them. We will need the address nominated as well as the nominee and we always advise that you let them know.

 

Special Awards:

Younger gardeners and students in full time education will receive special recognition for entering. There will also be a special award for the best “Wild About a Green Guildford” themed garden / allotment. Let us know if you are a young gardener and/or theming your garden.

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School Gardening Competition:

The School Gardening Competition runs alongside the main competition. The theme is also Wild About a Greener Guildford, and the closing date is 24 May 2024. Schools should register their entry by email at Schools@guildfordinbloom.com

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Website And Social Media:

Download your Entry Form Here:
You can also see details of previous winners on our Blooming Past page

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for regular updates, news and gardening tips.

 

Sponsorship:

With special thanks to our premium and major sponsors:

 

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Diary Dates:

24 May 2024                                   Best School in Bloom entry deadline

1 June 2024                                    Blooming Picnic in Guildford Castle Grounds

17-28 June 2024                             School Gardening Competition Judging

23 June 2024                                  Guildford in Bloom Competition entry deadline

2 July 2024                                      School in Bloom Awards

1-19 July 2024                                Guildford in Bloom Competition Judging

September (date tba)                    Guildford in Bloom Competition Awards Ceremony

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