As judgement day approaches for Farnham in Bloom, local residents and businesses can help in the final preparations. Judges from South and South East in Bloom will visit Farnham on Thursday 7 July to assess whether the town has done enough to secure an award in the Town Centre category.
Councillor Stephen Hill, Lead Member for Farnham in Bloom says: “It really is all hands on deck as we prepare for the judges’ visit. Everyone can do their bit: just taking a few moments to pick up any litter you see or sweeping up outside your shop, business or home will help our beautiful town look its very best.”
The South and South East in Bloom judges will be taken on a tour around the town, visiting locations including Victoria Garden, Gostrey Meadow and a local infants’ school. They will also enjoy a dance performance by 150 young people from The Dance Movement. The tour will be taken on foot, giving the judges every opportunity to see the floral displays and other initiatives that contribute towards this year’s entry.
Councillor Hill is one of a team of Town councillors who will be helping in the final preparations by painting the railings in the town centre on Tuesday evening. He says: “Last year we won Gold and also won the Regional award in the Town Centre category so the judges’ expectations will be incredibly high. They will see plenty of examples of the amazing work carried out for Farnham in Bloom such as our colourful hanging baskets and flower beds, cleaned up grot spots, new recycling bins and signs – to name just a few. It would be a terrible shame to lose points for something avoidable such as a piece of litter so I really urge the people of Farnham to support us by helping out with a final clear up ahead of Thursday.”
This year, the Farnham in Bloom Community Group has not only been filling the town with flowers but also organising competitions and activities to get as many people from the local community involved as possible. Support from the Farnham’s businesses is vital to success. Local company and Magimix suppliers BBS Ltd, continued as Farnham in Bloom Corporate Sponsor this year. BBS Ltd is joined by six other local companies as the main sponsors. “Having BBS Ltd on board has enabled us to raise the profile of Farnham in Bloom,” says Councillor Hill. “The town’s children have been involved in the scheme by taking part in competitions such as the best hanging baskets, tallest sunflower and even the best flower grown in a boot. Day-to-day tasks such as weeding and litter-picking have been carried out thanks to over 12,500 volunteer hours from the Farnham in Bloom Community Group, residents’ associations, businesses and individuals.”
Other projects have been as diverse as developing wildflower planting with the Bishop’s Meadow Trust to providing edible planters grown by Farnham allotment holders outside Sainsbury’s in the town centre and the planting of thousands of spring bulbs.
Judges from South and South East in Bloom will return to Farnham on 21 July to judge the Large Town category and on 2 August, the judges from Britain in Bloom will visit.
Farnham in Bloom is sponsored by:
- Corporate sponsor: BBS Ltd
- Gold sponsors: The Patio Black Spot Removal Company Ltd, Graduate Landscapes, Forest Lodge and Squire’s Garden Centre
- Silver sponsor: Bourne Valley Contractors
