Farnham schools have been invited to get involved in this year’s Farnham in Bloom by taking part in the hanging basket competition.

Schools that wish to participate will visit the Town Council’s greenhouses in West Street where they will be provided with everything they need to plant hanging baskets. One basket will be displayed in Castle Street and the others will be taken back to school where the children will look after them ready for judging in July.

Cllr Jeremy Ricketts, Lead Member for Farnham in Bloom says: “We have sent all schools in Farnham a packet of sunflower seeds so even if they cannot take part in the hanging basket competition, we have asked them to bring an extra splash of colour to their school by planting the seeds. Sunflowers are excellent for attracting bees which is good for pollination.”

He adds: “As well as the hanging basket competition, schools can also take part in the upside down tomato competition. This involves growing a tomato in a large plastic milk carton and hanging the container upside down. We have seen some fantastic productive results in previous years.”

A new competition has been introduced for 2014, which is ‘Grow a strawberry in a boot’. Schools that would like to take part in this challenge will be provided with a couple of strawberry plants and will just need to find a pair of old wellies or walking boots.

Farnham is entering the Large Town and Town Centre categories in this year’s South and South East in Bloom. The town has also been selected from more than 1,000 entrants and will be representing the south east in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom UK Finals 2014.

Anybody interested in finding out more or getting involved in the Farnham in Bloom competition should contact Amy Dawson on 01252 712667 or email amy.dawson@farnham.gov.uk.