Our Summer Competition Awards’ Event will be held at the Bournemouth West Cliff Hotel, Durley Chine Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5JS on:
Wednesday 16th October at 7.00pm
Welcome to our Gardening Competition for 2024!
We invite you to take part in our competition. You do not have to be an expert gardener but just love your garden. Your own design is for your enjoyment and then to share with us and inspire others! There are no rights or wrongs just your choice of planting and design.
Entering the competition is free of charge and the entry form is below. If you would like a printed copy, please email me on janekelly3951@gmail.com or the form can be selected and printed.
We hold an awards evening in October every year at the Bournemouth Westcliff Hotel, where everyone receives a certificate and all the winning gardens are shown on the screen. This event is very popular as can be seen in the photo of the winning gardeners!
We encourage you to become a member of Bournemouth in Bloom, the Bournemouth Horticultural Society, with which you are entitled to a discount at several local nurseries. You will also receive our Year Book detailing the three shows that we stage along with some wonderful photos of past show exhibits. The membership application form is also below.
If you feel that you would like to assist with the judging of our competition and have a love of plants and gardens, do contact us. No qualifications are required as we will give you all the guidance you need!
See below for some hints and tips about what the judges are looking for!
Please print off the forms once downloaded, complete and return as requested or contact us for a hard copy.
Examples of past entries!
WHAT THE JUDGES LOOK FOR
Plants, well grown
Garden does not have to be all flowers, just foliage types are acceptable, or a mixture of both.
Judges will look for right plant, right place, e.g. Tall plants at back of border and shorter ones at front. Sun lover in the shade or a shade lover in full sun are faults.
Spent flowers should be deadheaded.
Excessive pests and diseases are a fault.
Artificial flowers are not acceptable.
Hedges should be neatly trimmed
Paths should be clean.
Lawns trimmed neatly and with well-manicured edges. Lawns in drought conditions eg brown, will not be severely down-pointed as under current regulations watering of lawns is not a necessity.
Weeds should be kept to a minimum
Environmental gardens
Should have a level of unkempt appearance.
Plenty of cover for wildlife
No evidence of pest or disease control, eg slug pellets
A wildlife pond is an advantage, constructed at ground level with easy access for wildlife.
Nest boxes sited are an advantage.
Plantings of shrubs and trees which produce a food source is very important eg berries in autumn and winter.
Mixed types of habitats will obtain the highest marks.
Sensory Gardens
Should have good and easy access. Planting in containers above ground level is an advantage.
Plantings should provide strong colour, scent and texture.
“Where flowers bloom so does hope”
Lady Bird Johnson