News Help Maidstone look blooming lovely

Maidstone Borough Council is encouraging anyone who enjoys creating beautiful gardens or pots to get gardening now so they can enter the Maidstone Borough in Bloom competition which opens Thursday 21 April.

The closing date for entries is 1 July and judges will start inspecting all gardens, pots or allotments from 4 July giving residents and businesses plenty of time to create their stunning displays.

The Council works with Coolings Garden Centre in Bearsted and Leeds Castle to run the competition and awards ceremony which will take place towards the end of July.

There are lots of categories and entries are welcomed from residents, businesses and community groups. Anyone entering will be given a £5 voucher to spend at Coolings.

A trophy will be awarded for the winner in each category. All winners in each category will also receive a prize of £25.00 Coolings gift voucher as well as two adult annual tickets for Leeds Castle.

Maidstone Mayor Fay Gooch who will be officially launching the competition in April  said:

“We hope the In Bloom competition really encourages lots of entries, not only from residents but also from the thousands of businesses we have in the borough. Flowers really help to brighten up the areas we live and work in, as well as increasing biodiversity and wildlife, they help lift our spirits and make us all feel better.

“It was great there were so many stunning entries last year, people had worked so hard to make their gardens, businesses, pots, allotments or community gardens look beautiful. We would love to build on this each year and look forward to seeing all the wonderful entries this year. Hopefully in the future it might be possible for Maidstone to progress and enter the South & South East In Bloom competition to showcase community efforts and parks.”

The Maidstone Borough in Bloom categories are:

Best front garden

Best back garden

Best planted pot, trough or hanging basket 

Best allotment plot 

Best pollinator friendly garden

Best display of Jubilee colours

Best Commercial Garden or Horticultural Display 

Best Community Project

To enter please complete a Coolings Garden Centre entry form through the Maidstone Borough Council website here: https://maidstone.gov.uk/maidstone-borough-in-bloom

Image is of the wining best back garden 2021

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