You could be acclaimed as having the best garden in your ward by entering the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead’s Garden in Bloom Competition.
The popular competition is back for another year and nominations are open now. This year, the competition is sponsored by Housing Solutions, Berkeley Group and Silva Homes.
As residents, you can nominate your own garden, a neighbour’s, or if you see another blooming garden, feel free to take a note of the address and nominate it. The only criteria is the garden can be seen from the pavement or road.
Nominations can be made here. All entries must be made before noon on 31 July. We prefer that photographs are uploaded alongside your nomination to show your garden at its best. Nominations can also be made by emailing gib@rbwm.gov.uk or by post to “Garden in Bloom”, c/o Mayor’s Parlour, Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead SL6 1RF.
Ward councillors can also nominate gardens they notice around their wards.
Ward councillors will be judging entries for their respective wards. The winners in each ward will be presented with a rosette and voucher, while runners up will receive a rosette and all nominees a certificate.
The Mayor, Councillor Neil Knowles, said: “We have some very talented gardeners in the Royal Borough and we want you to know your green-fingered efforts to make your gardens beautiful do not go unnoticed.
“We recognise that they improve the appearance of the borough, making it a more appealing place to live – a prize just to say congratulations is a small token of our appreciation.
“So get your entries in as soon as possible, and make sure to include a photograph so we can see your blooming garden at its best. We look forward to seeing all the nominations.”
This year, gardeners are encouraged to enter both Garden in Bloom and the separate Wildlife Gardens Awards, which is also open until 31 July and is organised by the local ‘Wilds’ volunteer groups. Their website also includes a checklist of 24 wildlife-friendly features, such as all compost used in your garden being peat-free.
The Council has also recently committed to being peat-free, demonstrating that a blooming garden and wildlife-friendly spaces can go hand in (gardening) glove with each other.