It’s time to get your gardening gloves on and start work on your entry for Rushmoor Community in Bloom (RCiB) 2025.
In addition to the regular competition, we also have a school’s competition. You can find out what the judges will be looking for and how to enter both competitions on this page.
Follow our Facebook page for competition news and updates. Rushmoor Community in Bloom
With a tagline of ‘Wild about Gardening’ this year’s competition is an opportunity to celebrate our green spaces, both at home and in our community. We hope to encourage a greener, more environmentally friendly approach to gardening, raising awareness of the plight of our bumblebees and other essential pollinators. We are all guardians of the wild and cultivated gardens that are an important part of community life. The competition recognises the valuable role our greener open spaces play in the mental health and wellbeing of Rushmoor residents.
Rushmoor Community in Bloom – Residents and Community Groups
How to enter
Entries open in April 2025, please email debbie.whitcombe@rvs.org.uk if you would like to notified when the competition opens for entries.
RVS are trying to reduce the amount of paper we use, however, if you need a hard copy of the competition information and application form, please email your request to info@rvs.org.uk
Competition categories:
– Best Wildlife Friendly Garden
– Best Front Garden
– Best Community Garden
– Most Unusual Planted Container
– Best Hanging Basket or Container
– Best Business Floral Display
Judging
Judges will be doing their rounds in July. RCiB team of judges are drawn from the local community. We have keen gardeners, previous award winners and people passionate about the environment. All of them are looking forward to seeing the bountiful joys you have produced in your gardens!
Hanging Baskets and Containers: Only one hanging basket or one container will be judged at each property. You will need to identify the container or basket you want judged with a label. If this is not apparent during the Judges visit and there is more than container or basket on site, it will not be possible to judge your entry.
In each category the judges will be looking at these seven different elements:
Conservation & biodiversity
Do you have bug hotels, a pond or a managed wild area, to create alternative habitats for wildlife? Do you think about your garden as part of the cycle of nature?
Composting
Do you have a compost heap? What can you put in it? How do you manage your heap? Do you spread the contents over your garden in the Autumn?
Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle
Do you reuse or repurpose plant pots and containers? Do you look for second hand items that others are offering? Remember, junk to one can be treasure to another!
Watering
Have you got a rainwater butt or do you collect grey water for the garden? How often do you use a hose pipe?
Shrubs and perennials versus bedding plants
Have you thought about using more sustainable shrubs and perennials, rather than buying bedding plants? Do you collect seeds at the end of season for next year?
Creativity
Show us something a bit different. The judges value thinking outside the box to adapt to the resources available to you or to create something beautiful.
Appropriate maintenance
Have you researched how best to use the space you have and what the right maintenance is for your type of garden?
Prizes
The Judge’s decision is final. All winners achieving Silver, Silver Guilt, Gold and Best in Category will be invited to join the Awards Evening in September. The overall winner in the residential categories will receive a trophy and gift voucher from the category sponsor. Gold, Silver Guilt and Silver winners will be presented with certificates and garden vouchers. Bronze winners will receive a certificate which will be sent out by post. Best Business Winners will receive a certificate and be invited to the Awards Evening.
Awards Ceremony
We celebrate everything great about Rushmoor Community in Bloom with our prize winners at an Awards Ceremony in September. See our Facebook group – Rushmoor Community in Bloom
Sponsorship
Rushmoor Community in Bloom would like to thank our Sponsors for their generous support.
