Gardening enthusiasts in Farnham and surrounding villages are being urged to show off their gardens by entering this year’s Secret Gardens competition.

The Secret Gardens of Farnham is an annual competition to find Farnham’s best secret gardens and is part of Farnham in Bloom.

“We have launched our Secret Gardens competition during National Gardening Week, a week when novice and expert gardeners alike are expected to get weeding, planting, digging and planning in their gardens. Whether you have a window box, small patio, a large back garden or a statement front garden, and whether you are a resident, run a local business or even part of a school, there is a category for you. We welcome entries from new and experienced gardeners alike so don’t keep your garden a secret; visit our website to find out how to enter our competition – you could even win a prize,” says Iain lynch, Town Clerk at Farnham Town Council.

A brand new category for 2018 is the Madge Green Community Gardening Project Award. “Madge Green was the driving force behind Farnham in Bloom for many years and spearheaded the early work of the project. She passed away last year and it is fitting that this new category named in her honour will celebrate community gardening, the cornerstone of what Farnham in Bloom is about,” explains Iain Lynch. “We hope to see some exciting entries in this category so do enter if you are involved in community gardening.”

Madge Green was a prized gardener and talented flower arranger who took Farnham to heart when she moved to the town in 1955. As well as being heavily involved in local community groups, she was an accomplished journalist who interviewed, among others, Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister, and Dame Barbara Cartland.

Secret Gardens of Farnham is open to all gardeners in Farnham, which includes its surrounding villages. There are ten categories in all, covering large and small spaces, container gardens, business, community and private gardens. The full list of categories, entry requirements, prizes and guidelines for how the competition is judged can be seen on the Secret Gardens page. The deadline for entries is 13 June.