Special Awards

         A special awards form will be enclosed with the notification form. Please make sure these are filled in with your nominated projects for a special award. On the day the judges visit please hand this form to them. It is important that you make sure the judges know and see each special award entry you wish to be considered

         The categories are listed below.

Entrant…………………………………..Category……………………………………

There are other special awards that no nomination is required. They are Best New Entry, Most Improved Entry, Environmental Quality Award and The Roy Lacey Award.

CRITERIA FOR AWARDS 2008

Biodiversity Award

     The aim of this award is to recognise the efforts made by communities in supporting and increasing biodiversity in domestic and community gardens, and within parks, gardens, allotments and other green spaces managed by local authorities.

The award recognises the significance of gardens to biodiversity. It is an accolade to the entrant who best demonstrates the contribution they have made to benefit the biodiversity of their local area.

In assessing entries for this award, the judges will be looking for:

§         Evidence of the consideration by individual gardeners to the positive ( and negative) impact of selected plants and other features on local biodiversity

§         Evidence of engaging and educating the wider community, including children, on the topic of biodiversity as relevant to the local area. For example via interpretation material, planting demonstrations or via demonstration beds.

§         Evidence of the consideration given to specific wildlife that needs support within the local area, and the steps taken to implement supporting planting schemes. For example the rationales for including certain plants to attract insects that are a food source for bird species in the area.

§         A healthy balance of planting styles throughout the entry as a whole incorporating a variety of habitats to support a wide range of wildlife (for example aquatic planting for amphibians), and also sustainable approaches to bedding schemes.

§         Quality and appropriateness of planting design and presentation.

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     The RHS produces a helpful range of literature about biodiversity including an information leaflet entitled ‘Gardens and Biodiversity’, in addition to Conservation and Environment leaflets on subjects relating to biodiversity such as:

§         Wildflowers in the garden

§         Wildlife in gardens

§         Invasive non-native species

§         Wild and endangered plants in cultivation

§         CITIES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna)

§         Bringing  plants in from abroad

These leaflets and information about biodiversity are available from

www.rhs.org.uk/research/conservation_and_environment.asp

Industrial/Commercial Area Award.

Because some entrants have no industrial area this award includes commercial areas such as shopping centres, multiple stores, retail centres, bus stations, rail stations, etc.

Floral Display Using The Anglia in Bloom Pack From Pentland Plants Award.

This award is to be given to the entrant who has obtained the Anglia in Bloom pack of plants from Pentland Plants and used them to create an imaginative design. It can be a small area within a village that has been made floriferous or a large designed area in a public park using more than one pack. These can be combined with other plants and enhancement planting, i.e. dot plants or permanent planting.

Grow Your Own Award

     The aim of this award is to highlight the significant contribution made by fruit and vegetables to publicly accessible green spaces in local communities, both in terms of their culinary and aesthetic value and the part this plays in the In Bloom campaign. It will go to the entrant that best incorporates aspects of fruit and vegetables growing in their entry. It is hoped that this award will encourage greater numbers of people to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

     The judges will be looking for:

§         varieties of fruit and/or vegetables grown.

§         quality of produce.

§         best practice in growing of fruit and/or vegetables.

§         appropriate design and display

They will also be looking for innovation, public access, and education and communication of fruit and vegetable growing undertaken by the local community.

The judges might expect to see fruit and vegetables grown by individuals or groups in public spaces eg. in front gardens or in community gardens. They might expect to see fruit and/or vegetables mixed with ornamental planting, or as a dedicated fruit and/or vegetable site. Allotments can be considered if publicly accessible.

Environmental Quality Award (Replaces The Cleanest Award 2005)

Looking after our environment has become a key expectation, and cleanliness and waste management are two important aspects of the In Bloom criteria. In this award special emphasis will be placed on initiatives bringing improvements in one or more of the following areas:

§         Cleanliness eg. addressing issues of litter, dog fouling, chewing gum, graffiti, fly posting, vandalism, weeds, condition of hard landscaping and street furniture, condition of litter bins and dog bins and management of gap sites.

§         Health and environment eg. improving air or noise quality.

§         Waste management (green waste in particular) eg. composting and the recycling of materials.

§         Management of naturally occurring resources eg. minimisation of the use of water and heat conservation.

§         Soil degradation eg. addressing urban drainage issues

§         Chemical use eg. pesticides and nitrate fertilisers

The judges will look for innovative examples of community action in all of the above; communication to all sectors of the community on the activity and its benefits; and practical advice on how everyone can reduce waste and save resources at home. 

The Roy Lacey Award

      This award is given to the person or persons who have given a great deal of time and energy to promoting the aims and ambitions of the In Bloom, be it local, regional or national level.