As restrictions are lifted and Farnham emerges from lockdown, residents are being greeted by splashes of colour from cheery floral displays around the town centre and surrounding villages.

Over the past few months, Farnham Town Council’s outside team has followed social distancing guidelines and managed to plant 26,000 plants and make over 200 hanging baskets. Plants and flowers such as majestic begonias, geraniums and petchoas have been planted. Yellow calla lilies are new for this year and feature in planters and beds outside the council office in South Street. One has even been planted in a hanging basket – a prize is available for the first person who spots it and emails bloom@farnham.gov.uk. 

Councillor Sally Dickson, Lead Member for Community Enhancement says: “The arrival of coronavirus meant we rapidly had to rethink how we would tackle this year’s Farnham in Bloom. Although the South and South East in Bloom judges will not be visiting in person this year, we still need to provide them with evidence that we have reached the required standard so our team has been busy behind the scenes nurturing plants so that Farnham can once again flourish.

“Community participation plays a big role in Farnham in Bloom so during lockdown, we kept residents busy with a number of challenges such as creating a Lego garden, making a scarecrow and encouraging people to enter the Secret Gardens competition. We’ve seen some wonderful entries and I’d like to thank everybody who has taken part.”

Farnham in Bloom, which is supported by The Farnham Institute Charity as Principal sponsor, is also contributing towards the recovery phase of the coronavirus pandemic. Initially, a dozen large planters have been interspersed amongst the barriers which have been used for Farnham’s pavement widening scheme. The joint initiative between Farnham Town Council and Surrey County Council aims to provide pedestrians with more room so they can maintain a safe social distance when shopping.

Sponsors of hanging baskets have also helped get the town back on its feet. For every hanging basket that is sponsored, Farnham Town Council is contributing £25 towards the Coronavirus Support Fund. The fund provides grants to individuals and families in Farnham whose financial position has been badly affected by the pandemic.

See further details about Farnham in Bloom including how to enter the Secret Gardens competition.