Its that time of year again where Ross-in-Bloom is working out the competitions to be held for the coming summer. Work is also ongoing for the annual Heart of England in Bloom Campaign.
The front gardens, commercials, guesthouses, inns, restaurants and hotels will again be judged automatically. This is also the case for baskets, planters and containers. Therefore there is no need to enter these competitions. The initial judging for these will commence during the last week in June with at least 3 visits being made up to the end of July by various sets of judges. All gardeners are reminded we are governed by the laws of trespass and will only be able to judge what can be seen from the road or pavements.
Anyone who wishes to enter the other competitions will have to fill in an entry form available from the Heritage Centre and send them back to Mary Sinclair Powell by the 15th June. There is not an automatic entry from last year so new forms will have to be completed.
The competitions, which need entry forms, are:
Retired/Disabled Individual Garden; Retired/Disabled Community; Secret Garden for pubs, hotels, shops, etc that have a private garden that has public access; Best Street for 6 or more dwellings or businesses in a group; the Window Dressing Competition; Children’s Competition which is “Make a Garden on a Tray” this year. All of these will be judged in July and August except for the latter, which will be judged in June.
All competitions are judged on a percentage mark, which means everyone is equally capable of getting a Gold, Silver Gilt, Silver or Bronze award.
Everyone is reminded the colour scheme for Ross this year is Red White and Blue.
The results are based on the following within 5 categories, which can gain a maximum of 10 marks each. These can be a few pointers on gaining a few extra marks this year.
a. Wow Factor – This being the immediate effect on the judges when they see the garden for the first time.
b. Good use of space available including height – this levels the playing field between large and small gardens.
c. Good use of colour – this includes the use of the town colours. A garden full of plants of one colour can look very bland. One bed or basket with one colour can give that instant wow factor using a mixture of colours across the whole area.
d. Good mix of plants – this shows the gardener looks after wildlife in the area as different types of animal and bird life thrive on different diets. The odd small patch of nettles, for instance, encourages butterflies.
e. Good use of recycling, conservation, water retaining plants etc – the latter is going to be a must in years to come if the long hot summers continue. The overall winner last year won by one point because they had not watered their lawn. We also look for bird tables and feeders, bird baths, insect habitats (including perhaps a small pile of old logs for them to live in)
f. Lack of weeds and litter – new litter can be ignored as it probably blew in overnight. However, old weather worn litter, large weeds, dead weeds and a general unkempt look can lose points. As can the amount of weeds and litter on the immediate area under hedges and walls on the boundary of the garden. Bags put out for recycling and the rubbish collections that day are ignored. Life goes on.
g. Bio Diversity with wild flowers areas and perhaps planting fruit and vegetables amongst the flowers can also gain a few points.
h. Good maintenance and perhaps all year round gardens can gain a few more points.
On the whole a good all round garden, which looks as though the people of the town care for their environment, gets recognition with an award.
The Heart of England judges will be visiting Ross in July (date to be arranged). This is the opportunity for everyone to show off their town and encourage visitors to return year after year. Litter, graffiti and fly posting is a very serious problem in Ross. Everyone is encouraged to help Ross-in-Bloom by removing these entire eyesore when they see them.
Shops and businesses are encouraged this year to join in with the History of Ross Shops project as well as dressing their windows with a festive air. Perhaps you may have bunting or flags you can put outside your premises for the summer months if you cannot put out baskets or containers.
Ross won Gold in 2005 and it would be wonderful if we could match that again.
For further information on anything to do with Ross-in-Bloom and to offer help please contact Mary on 01989 563956 before 8pm or Margaret Lucas at Lucas Motorcycles in Brookend Street. Help can take any form and can be a little as one hour a month or 1 hour a day. It doesn’t have to be plant orientated.
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