Residents, community groups, tourism businesses and schools are being encouraged to enter the Island’s 2016 Wight in Bloom competition, which was officially launched at the National Trust’s Mottistone Gardens yesterday (Monday).
Wight in Bloom is an annual gardening and community competition that celebrates our fabulous Island and the efforts of our green-fingered community.
The free to enter competition, sponsored by Red Funnel and organised by Visit Isle of Wight since 2015, encourages and rewards those who take pride in their environment and make the Island a colourful and vibrant place to live and visit.
Wight in Bloom is part of Visit Isle of Wight’s Garden Isle marketing campaign, which this year coincides with Vist England’s Year of the Garden 2016 and the 300th anniversary of the birth of the 18th century garden designer, ‘Capability’ Brown.
Organisers of Wight in Bloom are keen to attract a bumper crop of entries from gardeners at all levels and in all 11 categories, especially from children – a sentiment expressed by Wight in Bloom’s patron and TV gardener, Alan Titchmarsh, who has said that he would like to see more kids in the garden this summer and beyond because he thinks it is vital children are connected to the earth.
David Thornton, CEO, Visit Isle of Wight, said:
“Without question, Wight in Bloom brings communities together and everyone involved does such a great job in transforming towns and villages and creating a blaze of colour across the Island.
Article continues below this advertisement “This year we want the Island to look even more fantastic and I very much hope that we get lots of new entrants, especially from younger people and those involved in the Island’s tourist industry.”
This year sees 11 categories in the competition, including Best Small Front Garden, Best Large Front Garden, Best Young People Initiative, Best Commercial Garden, Best Senior Citizen Complex, Best Community Floral Project, Best Small Tourist Attraction, Best Large Tourist Attraction, Best Creative use of a Small Space, Best Coastal Garden and Best Edible Garden.
Aspire Ryde, last year’s overall winner and winner of Best Community Floral, have already signed up for the 2016 competition. Heath Monaghan (pictured left with David Thornton) completed the entry form at yesterday’s launch at Mottistone Manor, which won ‘Best Tourist Attraction’ in 2015’s competition.
The closing date for entry into Wight in Bloom is 30th May. Judging will take place from 27th June to 25th July when local horticultural experts will tour the Island to assess the variety of floral displays, community projects and school gardens.
There is a limited amount of funding available to support parish and town councils purchase plants. For more information, contact [email protected]
Entry forms and the list of 11 categories are to be made available at https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/wightinbloom. Forms can also be picked up at Island tourist information points, including the Guildhall in Newport, and selected Island garden centres.
Kevin George, Red Funnel’s CEO, said:
“As 2016 is the Year of the English Garden and the 300th anniversary of the birth of 18th century garden designer ‘Capability’ Brown, we are hoping Wight in Bloom 2016 will be one of the biggest yet. Gardeners of all ages are encouraged to enter one of the 11 categories to help ensure the Island is looking its best this summer.”
The awards will be presented by Alan Titchmarsh MBE VMH DL at a ceremony at Osborne in September.
