2023 Judging Criteria

To help with your entry into Guildford in Bloom you can see our judging criteria set out below. Please note that the judges decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Allotment/Vegetable Garden

Quality/Maintenance of plants: Health and vigour of plants; absence of pests and diseases; no/few weeds present; correct pruning and support of plants; size and quality of crop.
Diversity of plants/crops and all year-round cropping: good range for all year-round production of vegetables, fruit in season and flowers
Use of space/layout: Well-planned layout relative to space. Include appropriate use of glasshouse, shed and hard landscape (where appropriate)
Sustainability: Judges are looking for water butt, compost bin, mulches, and companion planting
Evidence of Organic Management: use of companion planting and approach to pest and disease management, fertilizing.

Nature Conservation

The site is being positively managed for Nature Conservation
Innovative ways of informing and educating the wider community
Overall impression and how the project contributes to the wider community
Entrants are invited to submit up to three hundred words with photos with their application covering all or some of the following:
- What is your group objective? What was your starting point and what do you hope to achieve?
- What aspects of nature conservation are you addressing and why?
- Do you have community involvement and engagement? Do you support other groups or organisations? What impact does this support have?
- Tell us about the issues that you have encountered over the past year and how have these been dealt with?
- Do you have access and accessibility for the local community
- How does your garden/project contribute to the wellbeing of the community
- How does your project improve the ecosystem services (soil water, air quality and pollination) on the iste and contribute to biodiversity enhancement?
- How are you dealing with the management of invasive species?
- Do you avoid burning vegetation waste?
- How do you approach nature conservation awareness in particular rare and endangered species?

Neighbourhood Project

How the garden contributes to the wellbeing of the community
Innovation and use of space
Climate change, environmental and wildlife - positive action
Additional features/overall impression
Entrants are invited to submit up to three hundred words with photos with their application covering all or some of the following:
- What is your group objective? What was your starting point and what do you hope to achieve?
- Do you have community involvement and engagement? Do you support other groups or organisations? What impact does this support have?
- Tell us about the issues that you have encountered over the past year and how have these been dealt with?
- How does your garden/project contribute to the wellbeing of the community
- Do you have access and accessibility for the local community
- How does your project mitigate the effects of climate change, improve soil, water and air quality, and enhance biodiversity?
- How do you approach nature conservation awareness in particular rare and endangered species?

Pub or Business in Bloom

Quality/maintenance of plants: Health and vigour of plants; absence of pests and diseases; no/few weeds present; correct pruning and support of plants; deadheading etc
Diversity of plants/all year-round interest; Range of plants that complement each other and provide interest throughout the year
Quality of design/use of space: well-planned design relative to space. Includes appropriate use of hard landscape.
Effective use of colour/texture/form: Does the garden/project/feature make an impact in a pleasing way
Sustainability: use of mulches, drought resistant planting, approach to pest and disease management
Additional features/overall impression - has anything innovative been done to enhance the overall impression given.

Front Garden

Quality/maintenance of plants: Health and vigour of plants; absence of pests and diseases; no/few weeds present; correct pruning and support of plants; deadheading etc
Diversity of plants/all year-round interest; Range of plants that complement each other and provide interest throughout the year
Quality of design/use of space: well-planned design relative to space. Includes appropriate use of hard landscape.
Good use of colour/texture/form: Does the garden/project/feature make an impact in a pleasing way
Sustainability: use of mulches, drought resistant planting, approach to pest and disease management
Additional features/overall impression: has anything innovative been done to enhance the overall impression given.

Container Garden

Quality/maintenance of plants: Health and vigour of plants; absence of pests and diseases; no/few weeds present; correct pruning and support of plants; deadheading etc
Diversity of plants/all year-round interest; Range of plants that complement each other and provide interest throughout the year
Quality of design/use of space: well-planned design relative to space. Use of interesting/novel containers.
Effective use of colour/texture/form: Does the garden/project/feature make an impact in a pleasing way
Overall Impression: incorporating the above and general look and feel of the site

Best Garden for Wildlife

Use of space/design to encourage wildlife
Diversity/wildlife value of plants
Quality/care of plants
Year-round interest
Evidence of Wildlife: (1) Food (2) Shelter (3) Water features (4) organic management
Overall impression including sustainability ie water butt, composting, mulches, companion planting
Entrants are invited to submit up to three hundred words with photos with their application covering all or some of the following:
- What wildlife do you get in your garden
- Are you still developing your garden? What do you hpe to achieve?
- Tell us about the issues in relation to wildlife that you have encountered over the past year and how have these been dealt with?
- What aspects of wildlife enhancement and climate change awareness do you focus on?