We’re being encouraged to put on the gardening gloves, locate our favourite trowel and help make Isle of Wight bloom this summer as applications for Wight in Bloom 2019 open.
As well as announcing the opening of applications for this year’s competition, organisers Visit Isle of Wight have also announced that Southern Vectis have joined as the headline sponsor to strengthen the roots of Wight In Bloom and to help grow the popular gardening competition.
Richard Tyldsley, Southern Vectis general manager said:
“As a proud member of the Isle of Wight community, Southern Vectis is always on the look out for worthwhile causes and initiatives to support. We are committed to helping make this wonderful part of the UK attractive to locals and to the many visitors we welcome here.
“Wight in Bloom fits tremendously with this ethos, and we’re delighted to be working in partnership with Visit Isle of Wight on this excellent initiative.
“We are the Island’s bus company. Our buses are green in more ways than one – and we want to encourage more people to use sustainable transport. It’s all part of improving the environment around us”.
Will Myles, Managing Director at Visit Isle of Wight added:
“We’re very pleased to welcome Southern Vectis as headline sponsors of Wight In Bloom. As the Island’s green bus company, they are a great fit. Their ethos of sustainability links perfectly with Wight In Bloom and of course, what better way for residents and visitors to travel around the Island to admire the glorious gardens of homes, businesses, tourist attractions and more!”
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If you dig gardening – or have never tried it before – Wight In Bloom is the perfect opportunity to let your talents blossom. With 11 categories to enter, there is something for everyone – including commercial businesses, tourist attractions, young persons, care-givers, floral, edible and front gardens.
This year’s Wight In Bloom also lays more emphasis on sustainability, which accounts for 20% of the judges’ scoring.
Richard Tyldsley said he was looking forward to seeing the entries:
“I’m excited to see the entrants to Wight in Bloom. It would be great to see young people coming through – and for schools to enter. Anything that adds even more colour to the Island, in back gardens and allotments, will be superb.
“The Isle of Wight is a very special place, and I’d like to encourage tourists and locals alike to take it all in. Look out of the window and see all that this very special place has to offer. Even better, travel with us on one of our open-top buses. You’ll be wowed by the views and you may be fortunate enough to see one of the entries – or even one of the potential winners”.
The deadline to enter the competition is 5th June. Entry forms are available from garden centres across the Island, the Visitor Information Centre at Newport’s Guildhall or enter online at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HRPBPFV.
The judges will announce the winners at an awards ceremony on 23rd July, where TV and radio favourite Alan Titchmarsh will present the awards.
