Organisers of Thornton Heath in Bloom are hoping for another bumper crop of entries as people have been spending more time on their gardens during lockdowns.

Volunteers from Thornton Heath Community Action Team (THCAT) are organising this annual event for the sixth year running. Judges will be looking for the best, most colourful and varied planting in Thornton Heath and will be awarding prizes for the top three in these five hotly contested categories: front garden; concrete front space; business, group or organisation frontage; children’s plants or vegetables; street planter or planted tree pit. 

Also to reflect the important link between nature, the environment and our well being, THCAT have added new prizes: one for the best nature front garden, showing water conservation such as a water butt plus bee, butterfly and bird friendly planting. The second is for the best dustbin planter where plants are grown in a structure over the bins to make the space more attractive.

Last year, despite all the difficulties with lockdown, 100 entrants participated in the competition compared to the 39 entries received in the first year. Instead of the usual prize-giving ceremony in a local church hall, doorstep awards were arranged for all the winners. 

Chair of THCAT, Linda Watson said:“We hope for even more entries this time. Seeing beautiful plants as you walk down the street rather than just rows of dustbins can make such a positive difference.”

Entry forms need to be submitted by Friday July 9 with judging between July 10 and 17. For more information and for the entry form visit:
www.thorntonheath.net 

Email your entry to cr7inbloom@gmail.com or pop your form through the letter box at The Salvation Army, 66 High Street.