Prestigious Launch for Reading in Bloom Competition

Reading in Bloom

READING in Bloom 2019 will get off to a blossoming start at the launch event on Wednesday 8th May at the Hilton Reading Hotel.

The Mayor of Reading, Cllr Debs Edwards, alongside many of the community organisations who join in the competition every year, will be supporting the evening launch event, which marks the start of an eight week appeal to encourage gardeners and community groups across the town to get involved. The annual competition celebrates the gardeners across the borough helping to make the town a brighter, more beautiful place thanks to their colourful front gardens, hanging baskets, allotments and landscapes. The local competition has been running for over 40 years, making it one of the longest continuous In Bloom campaigns in the UK. The town has also been a regular entrant in the regional Bloom categories. There are 12 categories locally, spanning every type of gardening project - including community gardens, commercial grounds and pubs, alongside residential entries. Reading in Bloom has also run the Schools Challenge for the last 11 years, encouraging all the local schools to get involved and gain recognition for the work they do to encourage children to get into gardening. This year Reading in Bloom has gained a generous grant from Reading Lion’s Club to support the work of the schools. The launch event will also recognise all the groups who have supported In Bloom over the years. Previous winners recognised for their work in enhancing the local environment have included Green Park, Geoffrey Field Junior School, Erleigh Road Community Garden, Southcote Growallot, and many resident’s gardens across Reading.

The Mayor of Reading, Cllr Debs Edward’s said:

“This marvellous competition strives to make Reading a more pleasant place for all of us. I’d like to urge individual residents, schools, community groups and businesses to get behind Reading in Bloom and enter this year’s local competition and help us support the national entry. For the first time last year, Reading was shortlisted into the prestigious Britain in Bloom UK City category and received a Silver Gilt Award. This year we’d like to aim for Gold and with your help I’m confident we can do it!” The local competition feeds into the town’s entry in the National Britain in Bloom competition. Last year saw the town’s first entry at national level for a decade – receiving a Silver Gilt award, with ambitions to aim for the prestigious Gold in 2019. The competition is organised by the Reading in Bloom committee with the support of Reading Borough Council. A number of sponsors will attend the event, including A B Walker, Crowne Plaza Reading hotel, Cherubs Floral Design and Reading Business Improvement District. For more details and to enter online, visit www.readinginbloom.co.uk or visit facebook.com/ReadingInBloom The closing date for entries is 28th June 2019.

Ends

Notes to Editors

Photo opportunity:

The Media are invited to attend the launch event at the Hilton Reading Hotel on Wednesday 8th May for a photo call at 5.30pm. To register attendance, please contact: Sue.Brackley@reading.gov.uk Enter the competition here: www.readinginbloom.co.uk/entry-form

Reading in Bloom Categories:

Residential

1. Front garden — Under 12ft (door to highway) 2. Front garden — Over 12ft (door to highway) 3. Balcony, hanging baskets, & window boxes 4. Shared Garden 5. A shared garden is a garden cared for by more than one person in a residential setting.

Community

5. Community Garden A community garden is a garden looked after by members of a community in a non-residential setting.

Allotments

6. Most eco-friendly 7. Most attractive 8. Best maintained

Commercial

9. Landscape 10. Floral interior display 11. Pubs & restaurants — Exterior For information on what the judges are looking for see: www.readinginbloom.co.uk/what-we-judge