The Secret Gardens of Farnham is an annual competition to find Farnham’s best secret gardens. We look for imaginative front and back gardens, wildlife havens, beautiful courtyards and creative hanging baskets and containers.
This year we have some exciting new categories: Best Bee Friendly Border, Best Wildlife Photograph, Best Shop Window Display and the chance to nominate a friend’s, neighbours or a garden you pass by that makes you smile.
Who can enter?
The competition is open to residents, community groups and businesses who live in Farnham. This includes Badshot Lea, Hale, Upper Hale, The Bourne, Boundstone, Heath End, Moor Park, Rowledge, Weybourne, Wrecclesham and the town centre.
The categories
There are ten categories, which include:
- Best Courtyard
- Best Vegetable Garden
- Best Bee Friendly Border
- Best Wildlife Photography
- Best Care Home
- Best Shop Window Display
- Best Garden (nominated by a friend)
- Best Hanging Baskets or Container
- Best Pub Garden
- 2024 Madge Green Community Garden Award
Judging criteria and how each category will be judged.
| Categories | Criteria | How will it be judged? |
|---|---|---|
| Best Courtyard | An attractive space with well thought out planting. Evidence of considered choice of plants and plant care. | Photos to be submitted which will then be shortlisted. Shortlisted entries will visited w/c 5th August 2024. |
| Best Vegetable Garden | A well-tended vegetable garden with a range of fruits and vegetables. | Photos to be submitted which will then be shortlisted. Shortlisted entries will visited w/c 5th August 2024. |
| Best Bee Friendly Border | An attractive border, small or large, with pollinating friendly flowers. | Photos to be submitted which will then be shortlisted. Shortlisted entries will visited w/c 5th August 2024. |
| Best Wildlife Photo | A photography taken in or near Farnham of wildlife | Photos to be submitted. |
| Best Care Home Garden | An attractive garden with a range of interesting plants for the residents to enjoy. | Judging will take place in August 2024. |
| Best Shop Window Display | An attractive window display with the theme of ‘Flowers and Friendship’ to be installed from Saturday 25th July to Saturday 3rd August. | Judging will take place in July 2024. |
| Best Garden (nominated by a friend) | This category can be nominated by a friend, neighbour or passer-by. If a front garden makes you stop and admire the plants or a friends garden makes you smile, why nominate it for this category. | Photos to be submitted which will then be shortlisted. Shortlisted entries will visited w/c 5th August 2024. |
| Best Hanging Baskets or Container | Good choice of plants including lots of colour in a hanging basket or container and well maintained. | Photos to be submitted which will then be shortlisted. Shortlisted entries will visited w/c 5th August 2024. |
| Best Pub Garden | A relaxing space with suitable floral displays which are well maintained. | Judging visits will take place in August 2024. |
How to enter
The competition has now closed for entries. Judging will take place in July and August.
Secret Gardens Competition
Please complete the form below.
