Don’t miss out on your chance to star in Leeds in Bloom

Time is fast running out for residents, businesses and community groups in the city to showcase their green fingered credentials and skills in this year’s Leeds in Bloom competition.

Judges will again be out in force across the city this July and August to judge entries in the businesses and community gardens and private gardens categories, and the good news is, there is still time to submit your own entries before the deadline, which is Tuesday, 30 June 2015.

Featuring in 11 businesses and community gardens categories include public house, school or youth group garden, restaurant café or licenses premises (other than a pub), hotel and small and large retail premises. Credit will be given for originality, variety, colour and impact of each individual floral display, along with other criteria such as tidiness, cleanliness, neatness and absence of litter. For a full list of categories, please see notes to editors.

Leeds is also extremely fortunate to have residents across the city who put enormous time and energy into making their gardens look absolutely fantastic. If you are one of those people, the private gardens competition is a great opportunity for you to showcase your work to a wider audience. Whether you have a large garden, a small plot or a container display, everyone is welcome to take part.

A range of prizes will be given to the winners as part of the competition, including gold, silver and bronze trophies and horticultural gift vouchers. Medal winners will also be invited to attend a September award ceremony at Leeds Town Hall.

Entry forms and further information are available from http://www.leeds.gov.uk/leisure/Pages/Leeds-In-Bloom.aspx

Leeds has a thriving in bloom network with over 50 groups in communities across the city that contributes to over 1300 floral displays.

Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council's executive member for communities, said:

“We are very lucky in Leeds to have so many residents, in bloom groups, businesses and organisations who are extremely dedicated to keeping our communities vibrant and full of colour. The Leeds in Bloom awards are always a great way in which to celebrate all of this hard work and effort, which is why we are so eager for as many entries as possible into this year’s competition.

“With the deadline to submit an entry now not far away, we would urge anyone who would like to showcase their floral displays or private gardens to fill in an application form as soon as possible.”

Notes to editors:

The full business and community garden category is as follows:

• public house

• restaurant, café or licensed premises (other than a pub)

• hotel

• small offices or business premises

• large offices or business premises

• small retail premises

• large retail premises

• large business or retail park

• school or youth group garden

• community or club garden

• Church or place of worship garden

  For further information regarding Leeds in Bloom, please Contact Richard.Gill@leeds.gov.uk or phone Richard on 0113 3957400.

  For media enquiries, please contact;

• Colin Dickinson, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 39 51578

• Email: colin.dickinson@leeds.gov.uk