Isle of Wight gardeners are invited to celebrate their work and take part in this year’s Wight in Bloom competition.
Wight in Bloom is an annual community-based competition that celebrates the Island’s diverse range of gardens – from the small space to the large tourist attraction. Sponsored by Red Funnel and organised by Visit Isle of Wight, the competition encourages gardeners to create colourful floral displays that will make the Island a brighter place to live and visit.
This year there will be 11 categories including: Best Small Front Garden; Best Large Front Garden; Best Commercial Garden; Best Senior Citizen Complex; Best Young People Initiative; Best Community Floral Project; Best Small Tourist Attraction Garden; Best Large Tourist Attraction Garden; Best Creative Use of a Small Space; Best Edible Garden and new for 2017 Best Water Feature.
Wight in Bloom are supporting the Earl Mountbatten Hospice by purchasing EMH sunflower seed packets to give to entrants of this year’s Wight in Bloom competition. It is hoped that these will be grown across the Island during the summer to support the EMH 35th Anniversary and to brighten up gardens and open spaces.
David Thornton, CEO, Visit Isle of Wight said:
“Wight in Bloom is hugely important; it remind us all that a great deal of the Island is on constant show, and we need to look our best all the time. There are many green-fingered experts living on the Isle of Wight, from TV celebrities to groups of eager school children, all of whom help to make the Island look terrific. This annual competition is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on our “Garden Isle” heritage for the benefit of tourists and Island residents alike.”
Gardens can be entered into the competition from 19th May until the closing date of 30th June. Judging will take place from 3rd-30th July when a team of local horticultural experts will visit the gardens to decide the first, second, highly commended and overall winner of The Peggy Jarman Trophy. Wight in Bloom Patron Alan Titchmarsh MBE VMH DL will present the Awards at a garden party ceremony in September.
Entry forms with full details of the categories can be found at the Visitor Centre, The Guildhall, Newport and at the Red Funnel website www.redfunnel.co.uk/wightinbloom.
Kevin George, Red Funnel’s CEO commented:
“We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of the ever popular Wight in Bloom. The annual competition is a great opportunity for first-time and seasoned gardeners to showcase their skills with categories designed to encourage young people and community groups to take part”.
