Entrants Information - Judging Guidelines
Core Pillars of Anglia in Bloom
Horticultural Achievement
Environmental Responsibility
Community Participation
General
Remember that the entire tour route is subject to judging; that means what the judges see on the way from one feature stop to another as well as what they see at all the stops and as they further explore sites on foot during the tour are ALL subject to judging. Furthermore, the campaign should have considered the entire community not just the high street or the village square and that, at the very least, there is plans to address “problem” areas (i.e. vacant premises/plots, eyesores etc.). Finally, remember Anglia in bloom judges look for campaign activities that benefit the community not just for today but for the longer term.
Section A – Horticultural Achievement (50%; max 100 points)
In this section year-round achievements in horticulture (including conservation and natural areas) focusing on 5 key factors:
A1. Impact
A2. Horticultural practice
A3. Residential and community gardening
A4. Business areas and premises
A5. Green spaces
Each of these key factors will make up 10% of the overall score and be worth a maximum of 20 points each.
Floral displays are an important element of the ‘in Bloom’ Campaign, but must be proportionate to the areas of sustainable planting and permanent landscaping within the entry. Floral displays may be present in a number of locations but typically, displays will be located in:
· Publicly owned areas, including parks, publicly owned buildings, roadside areas and roundabouts.
· Housing and residential areas, residential homes, schools, allotments etc.
· Shopping areas, business areas and premises, commercial premises, public houses, hotels, garages, and transport terminals such as bus and train stations.
‘In Bloom’ has environmental responsibility at its core including permanent/sustainable planting initiativesl. Landscaped areas with permanent plantings could include any of the areas outlined above as well as:
· Woodlands, copse, shelterbelts, verges, parks, public open spaces
· Business parks, industrial estates
· Screen planting, near factories/industrial areas, eyesores, vacant premises/plots etc.
· Amenity planting near residential areas, car parks, shopping areas
SECTION A: HORTICULTURAL ACHIEVEMENT – 100 points; 50%
A1. IMPACT – 20 points; 10%
Evaluate the impact across the entry, in each area and as a whole
Colours & Design
Is there a scheme or theme overall and/or in key locations? Are the colours/design suited for the location?
Appropriate choice of plants
Are there of too many/too few plants to enhance the area? Are the plants appropriate in terms of flowering period and habit? Is there sufficient variation, appropriate herbaceous plants?
Are there appropriate varieties of both newly planted and recently (up to 5 years) planted areas (including mixes of trees, shrubs and herbaceous planting). Planting could be for foliage effect, bark effect etc. or for a specific purpose (i.e. conservation) or to provide flowering or other effects for a defined period.
Special features
Sometimes provided as a focal point, and may include structures or an intensive area of bedding.
Presentation
Are areas well presented and maintained?
Innovation
Are new and creative ideas evident in the design, colours, themes, plant selection etc.
A2. HORTICULTURAL PRACTICE – 20 points; 10%
Horticultural practice in all areas on the tour route to be assessed
Cultivation and Maintenance
Watering, dead-heading and weeding is important. Appropriate feeding may be necessary.
May include irrigation considerations and thinning, trimming or pruning as appropriate.
Quality of plants
Good quality plants, obviously flourishing. No obvious signs of pests, diseases or deficiencies.
Appropriate size for planting situation, appropriate soil type etc.
Sustainability
Sustainability is about ensuring ecological functions, processes, biodiversity and productivity can be maintained and only using resources at a rate at which they can be replenished naturally. Take into consideration the balance of permanent/sustainable planting vs. seasonal/bedding plants and the timing of displays.
New planting
How much new planting has been undertaken on an annual basis? Is there a longer-term plan for the whole area or district etc.?
A3. RESIDENTIAL AND COMMUNITY GARDENING – 20 points; 10%
Areas that may be included:
Residential - Primarily front gardens/gardens in public view
Communal areas - Shared residential & communal spaces
Allotments
Public Buildings (grounds of) - includes schools, town halls, libraries, community centres, churches etc.
Car parks
What is assessed:
This section relates to only the areas as described above but they will also be evaluated with consideration for the criteria outlined in sections A1 and A2.
Are these areas in keeping with the overall efforts of the campaign? Do they show support for the campaign’s goals of improvement/enhancement? Has the campaign engaged other community groups in improving their own areas and/or included these areas in their own initiatives?
A4. BUSINESS AREAS AND PREMISES – 20 points; 10%
Areas that may be included:
Retail and shopping areas, leisure sites, transport terminals (i.e. bus stop, station), fee-paying car parks, farms, rural businesses, pubs, post offices, tourist areas/attractions and other business premises (i.e. estate agents, law offices…) etc.
What is assessed:
This section relates to only the areas as described above but they will also be evaluated with consideration for the criteria outlined in sections A1 and A2.
Are these areas actively involved in the initiatives of the local bloom campaign? Are their efforts in keeping with the overall efforts of the campaign? Do they show support for the campaign’s goals of improvement/enhancement? Support can include: sponsoring displays/planters, actively engaging in horticultural efforts on their own premises, funding bloom initiatives, volunteering/participating in local bloom activities etc.
A5. GREEN SPACES – 20 points; 10%
Areas that may be included:
Verges, parks and open public spaces including woodlands arboretums, bulb & tree planting initiatives, copse, shelterbelts
What is assessed:
This section relates to only the areas as described above but they will also be evaluated with consideration for the criteria outlined in sections A1 and A2.
Are these areas actively involved in the initiatives of the local bloom campaign? Are their efforts in keeping with the overall efforts of the campaign? Do they show support for the campaign’s goals of improvement/enhancement?
Section B – Environmental Responsibility (25%; max 50 points)
In this section year-round achievements in 5 key areas:
B1. Conservation and biodiversity
B2. Resource management
B3. Local heritage
B4. Local environmental quality
B5. Pride of place
Each of these key areas will make up 5% of the overall score and be worth a maximum of 10 points each.
Consider environmental responsibility across all areas of the campaign, for example, if there is a fabulous floral display has this been achieved with consideration for the environment.
Although this section does outline the key areas of environmental responsibility bear this important core pillar in mind across all of the ‘in Bloom’ activities and initiatives.
The ‘in Bloom’ campaign encourages environmentally responsible activities/projects which are designed to improve the areas where we live, work and spend our leisure time. Looking after our environment has become a very important community concern and we are all being encouraged to recycle and use environmentally responsible products and practices wherever and whenever possible. It is the expectation that participants in ‘in Bloom’ will strive to provide a co-ordinated approach so that all environmental issues are resolved in harmony with each other.
Groups should aim to have either initiated or are actively engaged with programmes/activities (as appropriate) which are working towards providing environmental enhancements and which might include:
· Establishing nature conservation and wildlife areas
· Cleaning up polluted sites and appropriate treatment/screening of derelict property or other eyesores
· Active policies to reduce the demand placed on natural resources - e.g. source of
water used for plants, use of peat, use of hardwood timber etc
· Maintaining and preserving natural habitat.
· Minimal use of pesticides and nitrate fertilisers and reducing or eliminating harmful effects on the environment
· Interventions, management and development of local heritage (including natural heritage)
SECTION B: ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY – 50 points; 25%
B1. CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY – 10 points; 5%
Areas that may be included:
Wildlife areas and natural habitats
What is assessed:
What efforts have being made to preserve and maintain these areas? Are there activities to educate the community and encourage them to visit these areas? Is there activities or plans to re-introduce or restore these areas where they have disappeared or been damaged?
B2. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT – 10 points; 5%
Areas that may be included:
Recycling; minimising demand placed on natural resources; minimising or where possible eliminating any harmful impact on the environment.
What is assessed:
Has activities been initiated to make strides in these areas? Has the entrant shown due consideration to resource management in their own activities? For example, Has it recycled its container compost? Does the cemetery have a compost heap and waste separation area?
B3. LOCAL HERITAGE – 10 points; 5%
Areas that may be included:
Management and development of local heritage and/or identity such as natural heritage, community landmarks/icons, other heritage sites etc.
What is assessed:
Has activities been initiated to ensure these areas are appropriately managed and developed? Has the entrant taken these areas into account in their own activities/initiatives?
B4. LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY – 10 points; 5%
Areas/activities that may be included:
Vacant premises and plots, litter, graffiti, fly-posting, dog fouling, water features/courses, litter picks etc
What is assessed:
Has the entrant considered these areas/activities and actively included them in their initiatives? Are the efforts in these areas/activities in keeping with the overall efforts of the campaign? Does it show support for the campaign’s goals of improvement/enhancement?
B5. PRIDE OF PLACE – 10 points; 5%
Areas that may be included:
Management of street furniture, signage, art in the landscape, fences, way-marking, interpretation, hard landscaping etc
What is assessed:
Have these been considered in the initiatives of the entrant? Are the initiatives in these areas in keeping with the overall efforts of the campaign? Do they show support for the campaign’s goals of improvement/enhancement?
Section C – Community Participation (25%; max 50 points)
In this section the year-round achievements in 5 key areas are:
C1. Development and continuity
C2. Communication and education
C3. Community involvement
C4. Year-round involvement
C5. Funding and support
Each of these key areas will make up 5% of the overall score and be worth a maximum of 10 points each.
Community participation is crucial to the success and continuity of ‘in Bloom’ campaigns. Consider your community participation in all appropriate areas of the local campaign’s initiatives. For example consider whether the local campaign has engaged the community in responsible resource management or educated them about this important issue or whether they have tried to educate and engage the community with regards to local heritage sites. Although this section does outline the key areas of community participation, please bear this important core pillar in mind across all the ‘in Bloom’ activities and initiatives.
‘In Bloom’ is a proactive campaign of communities creating long-term improvements to their local environment. As such it is expected that a diverse range of community members will be involved in the campaign and that there will be broad based public awareness and support. Focusing on community participation may require some local authorities and public bodies involved to in driving ‘in bloom’ initiatives to take on the role of enabler or advisor to generate that participation.
‘In Bloom’s positioning as a community improvement and environmentally responsible campaign means that the entrant should show how it intends to continue to develop its programme. Young people and schools should also be involved and that care has been taken to make effective use of the educational opportunities which exist. Furthermore, ‘in Bloom’ is not just about spring and summer floral displays; it is about a year-round programme of activity to improve, enhance and maintain the environment around us and keep the community actively engaged in keeping things at their best.
· Entrants should show evidence of thoughtful planning of how they maintain the improvements they make and how to develop in the future.
· Have an effective communication and education programme evidenced by the level of awareness and understanding in the community as well as by physical evidence such as informative signs and displays, press clippings, publicity materials etc.
· Evidence a broad base of community involvement across all ages, ethnic and/or religious backgrounds, socio-economic groups with a particular effort to engage young people/schools/colleges as appropriate to their community.
· Have a year-round programme of activity to keep their community engaged and at its best throughout the year (not just spring/summer displays and activities).
· Have secured funding/sponsorship and/or support for their activities and the support of government, commercial, corporate, business sectors for their campaign.
SECTION C: COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION – 50 points; 25%
C1. DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUITY – 10 points; 5%
Areas/activities which may be included:
Development and sustainability of the local bloom initiative and evidence of on-going projects.
What is assessed:
Has the entrant considered how to maintain and/or improve upon current achievements in the future? Are the initiatives/works of the campaign sustainable for the longer term? Have any plans been developed to ensure on-going benefits to the community of the local bloom campaign? Are there plans in place for on-going projects? Has the entrant established a structure and support network to ensure its own existence and/or development in the future?
C2. COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION – 10 points; 5%
Areas/activities which may be included:
Publicity materials; press coverage; signage/interpretation; displays; engaging with schools, young people and/or other community groups; community awareness and understanding; educational and awareness campaigns on key issues.
What is assessed:
Look for evidence of public awareness campaigns and educational programmes generated and/or actively supported by the local bloom campaign. In particular look for activities and initiatives to inform, educate and engage children and young people. Has the local media been involved (newspapers, magazines, radio, TV as applicable)?
C3. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT – 10 points; 5%
What is assessed:
Has the entrant made every effort to include and secure community involvement which is representative of the community’s size and diversity? Have they engaged the community across all ages, ethnicities, races, cultures, religions, abilities (i.e. special needs and the disabled) and incorporated community reparation volunteers? (Reminder: community participation should be representative of your community. For example: If there is a young and ethnically diverse community they should be engaged ‘in Bloom’ initiatives.) Has the bloom campaign supported and encouraged any Neighbourhood Awards groups in their area or helped support the start up of new Neighbourhood Awards groups?
C4. YEAR-ROUND INVOLVEMENT – 10 points; 5%
Areas that may be included:
Entrants will be expected to show evidence of a year-round programme of activity through photographs, sample promotional materials, press clippings, calendar of events etc. Some examples of “out of season” activities would be litter picks, leaf clearing, fundraising events, repairing/preparing of landscape areas and street furniture, educational activities, etc.
What is assessed:
Evaluate whether the ‘in bloom’ campaign has been active and has engaged the community throughout the year. This should be primarily evaluated based on the content of the 15 minute presentation however, also take into account other supporting evidence (see above) which can be displayed/distributed on the day and/or included in the portfolio.
C5. FUNDING AND SUPPORT – 10 points; 5%
Areas that may be included:
Both efforts made to secure support and amount of support actually secured for the ‘in bloom’ campaign. “Support” can mean not just funds but also the active engagement of the local government, commercial and corporate sectors, local businesses/offices and the general public in the campaign (i.e. maintenance support from council services, shopkeeper cleaning up & greening up their own storefront, local business sending staff out to volunteer on an ‘in Bloom’ project etc. qualify as active engagement).
What is assessed:
Has the ‘in bloom’ campaign made efforts to engage and secure support from local government, the commercial/corporate sector and local businesses? Have there been activities to raise support and/or funds from the general public? Has sufficient support been secured to ensure the campaign is able to deliver its objectives? Is there a plan of action to secure sufficient continuing support for the development and on-going projects of the campaign?