Bexley in Bloom

What's it all about?

Bexley in Bloom is an annual competition that gives local people the chance to show off their gardening skills. It aims to make the Borough more attractive for residents and visitors, whilst at the same time raising awareness of the environment.

Anyone can enter

Whether you have a window box or hanging baskets, a pretty front garden, or run a business or pub, there's the opportunity for you to take part. You could even win one of the excellent prizes donated by Ruxley Manor Garden Centre. If you're not a keen gardener yourself, why not take the opportunity to nominate somebody else. It could be a neighbour with a delightful front garden, a friend or relative, the gardener responsible for your church grounds, or even the manager of your "local".

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Judging

This will be carried out by judges on the following dates:

Schools judging: (inc Schools Wildlife Garden category if entered) 15 to 24 June, the Heaviest Potatoes will be judged at the award ceremony.

Front Garden, Permanent Planting: 13 July to 19 July
London in Bloom: 6 July to 17 July
Wildlife Garden (not schools): 20 July to 4 August
Front Garden – Seasonal and Container Planting: 20 July to 4 August
Back Gardens: 20 July to 4 August
Shared Gardens and Business/Public Buildings: 6 July to 10 July
A postcard will be put through your letterbox once the garden has been judged. At the award ceremony each entrant will receive a copy of the results with judge’s comments. A special daytime ceremony will be held for all the School categories in late July.

A postcard will be put through your letterbox once the garden has been judged.

Entries for Bexley in Bloom are now closed.

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Competition Guidelines

This year's competition aims to give all entrants a chance to see what standard their garden is. Our independent judges will assess each garden against nationally recognised judging criteria and give all an appropriate certificate:

• Gold,
• Silver Gilt,
• Silver,
• Bronze, or
• Merit

They will also produce a mini report with constructive comments on the aspects of your garden. The achievement certificates will be presented to each entrant at the award ceremony held later in the year. In addition to the above there are 40 recognition awards kindly donated by Ruxley Manor Garden Centre and two recognition awards donated by The News Shopper.

All categories must be viewable by the public except for Schools, Back Gardens and Wildlife Gardens.

Gardens must be accessible throughout the judging dates.

The judges will conduct a preview in late June to select gardens to represent the borough in the prestigious London in Bloom competition. Notification will be made if your garden is selected.

Categories and Recognition Awards for 2009

Please complete and return the prepaid card to enter the competition. The closing date for the receipt of entries is Friday 22 May for Schools and Friday 12 June 2009 for all other categories.

If you need any further information please telephone 0208 303 7777.

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Sponsor's

Ruxley Manor Garden Centre

For many the name of Ruxley Manor Garden Centre and the annual Bexley in Bloom competition have been very closely linked. This year 2009 proves no exception and we want to extend our sincere thanks to the company for their continuing support and encouragement.

The success of the competition clearly demonstrates that local people want to be involved in improving the environment and the planting of trees, shrubs and flowers provides a perfect solution.

Ruxley Manor Garden Centre is a well established family business, having started from humble beginnings in 1964, they have successfully grown and developed over 45 years to become one of the UK’s leading garden centres. They pride themselves on offering all their customers a very personal, friendly service and people come from far and wide to see their extensive selection of high quality gardening and leisure products.

Boasting a large plant area, they offer an array of plants from around the globe, while closer to home they proudly grow onsite their own great value bedding and herbaceous range.

In addition, the centre boasts an inspirational lifestyle area, offering gift ideas for all the family. Renowned for it’s extensive choice of cane furniture and barbecues, Ruxley Manor is a garden centre that caters for all seasons. You can also take the weight off your feet at Cyril’s Coffee Shop, where you can rest and relax with a drink and a bite to eat.

New for Spring 2009 is the 'Beautiful Beds & Brilliant Borders' Planting Plan Service, where the resident Garden Designer will use her specialist plant knowledge to come up with the perfect flower beds for your garden. Therefore, whether you are a complete gardening novice or a seasoned gardener who just wants some fresh ideas then let Ruxley Manor come up with the perfect planting plan for your garden. Please call on the number below for more details.

We look forward to joining with Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in providing a quality service to the community and in encouraging local people to improve their surroundings for the benefit of all those who live and work in the Borough. Our sincere thanks to the sponsors of Bexley in Bloom 2009.

Ruxley Manor Garden Centre

Maidstone Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 5BQ
Telephone: 020 8300 0084
rmg@ruxley-manor.co.uk
www.ruxley-manor.co.uk

Cory Environmental

Cory Environmental is one of the UK’s leading waste management, recycling and energy recovery companies, operating across the country and employing over 1,000 people. It provides a wide range of integrated services from street cleansing and municipal waste collection, to recycling, transfer and disposal. Cory’s services have been recognised with a number of awards for sustainable transport, the management of facilities and city cleanliness.