How to sign up for RHS Britain in Bloom 2014

Launched by the British Tourism Authority to help brighten our towns, cities and villages back in the Sixties, it had been organised solely by the RHS since 2002.

And this year looks like being the best-ever contest as the RHS gives away half a million sunflower seeds to help community groups all over the country create fields of gold in private and public gardens – or even on derelict land.

RHS Community Horticulture Manager Stephanie Eynon said:  “We're providing the seeds as a big thank you to all the industrious and passionate people who work year-round to make the UK clean, green and beautiful.

“It is also a chance to do something big for the environment. As well as being symbolic of RHS Britain in Bloom’s 50th year, these glorious fields of gold will provide vital food for pollinators this summer.”

Among the sunflower seeds being given away are Giant Single, the Moonwalker, Taiyo and Vanilla Ice.

“These gorgeous and uplifting plants have been known to grow an astonishing 20 feet high, which reflects the sort of spirit and drive we associate with RHS Britain in Bloom volunteers,” said Stephanie.

Community groups wanting to take part in Britain In Bloom must apply by March 26 in order to get the free sunflower seeds, which are being given away on a first-come, first-served basis.

It is easy to sign up on the RHS’s website at www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloomlaunch and the seeds will arrive in time for groups to plant them during National Gardening Week, April 14-20.

The seeds are available to all regional and national groups registered for Britain in Bloom, as well as smaller It’s Your Neighbourhood groups, RHS Affiliated Societies and members of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening.

Communities of all sizes take part in the Britain in Bloom competition, some in partnership with local councils but many run by volunteers.

The campaign is organised by 18 region/nation co-ordinators such as Anglia in Bloom, Beautiful Scotland, Heart of England in Bloom and Wales in Bloom.

Within each nation or region there are competitions for 12 categories, such as best small village, large town, city or urban development, and judging in June or July is based on horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation.

Every year about 1,600 communal groups take part in these regional competitions and the winners are nominated to go into the UK finals of RHS Britain in Bloom, which is judged in early August.

Smaller community groups often opt for the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood programme, which is just as beneficial for the local environment.

There are around 15 awards up for grabs in the finals of Britain in Bloom.

The ultimate, Champion of Champions, is selected from UK Finalist entries that have consistently achieved a high standard, and was won last year by Lytham St Annes, in Lancashire.

Other awards include Edible Britain (Bath, Wiltshire), Conservation and Wildlife (St Brelade, Jersey), Heritage (Eston, Middlesbrough), Public Park (The Dingle, Shrewsbury), Pride of Place (Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham), Tourism (Bournemouth) and School (Oakley School, Tunbridge Wells).

Every year two RHS Britain in Bloom UK Finalists are then invited to represent the UK in the Entente Florale Europe competition held between 12 European countries.

If you have never been involved in the campaign before, Britain in Bloom can appear quite baffling – despite the flow diagram in the information pack that you can download from the RHS website.

Perhaps the only way to get to the bottom of how it all works is to get together with friends and have a go yourself.

Even if you don’t win any prizes you will have brightened your communal environment with your own field of gold, providing food for bees and other pollinators and seeds for birds.

So everyone’s a winner with Britain’s in Bloom.