Kenilworth in Bloom invites entries for competition with awards ceremony to be held when safe to do so

Kenneth Thompsons front garden. He took the special John and Suzanna Mould Trophy for best first-time entrant in Kenilworth in Bloom's garden competition and also won outright in the small back garden category.

Residents are being encouraged to send up to five photos of their gardens or of gardens in the town they believe to be worthy of being entered into the competition by email to Kenilworth in Bloom chairman Bob Watson at [email protected] or by Whatsapp to the number 07808 571251.

People can also post prints and SD cards or USB sticks with photos on them through the letterbox at 2 Fieldgate Lane.

Details with the photos must include names telephone number, email and home addresses, the address of where the garden, the details of the gardener or gardeners and the date of when the photos were taken this year.

Servite House's entry to Kenilworth in Bloom 2019.

Photos and details need to be provided by the end of July.

Bob said: "Kenilworth in Bloom has run a successful garden competition for at least the last 20 years.

"We normally invite entries in May and June and visit gardens for judging in July then collate the results and give people the good news in August, and gather in September for Awards Night – a thoroughly enjoyable social night with all concerned invited to share the joy of gardening.

" In fact, in my five years as chairman of Kenilworth in Bloom it’s always been the best part of the job.

"Obviously this year it will be difficult, but we think we’ve found a way out."

Entrants, nominees, photographers and nominators will all be invited to the awards ceremony to the competition which could take place at Kenilworth Sports and Social Club at the end of the summer.

Bob said: "As normal for Kenilworth in Bloom garden competitions, we’ll invite everyone to the awards night gathering, always assuming that we’re through the danger by September.

"If not, we’ll postpone it until it is safe.

No Kenilworth in Bloom plant sale took place this year.

And sponsors, mostly shops and businesses in Kenilworth, have found it difficult to continue funding Kenilworth in Bloom at a time when most businesses are temporarily closed.

Bob said: "We are enormously grateful to those that have still managed to provide some funds.

"This has left a big hole in our finances, and our ability to pay for the usual two re-plantings of the flower containers was in doubt.

"We are in the process of obtaining alternative funding from Kenilworth Town Council, which is working hard with us to minimise the impact."

Kenilworthinbloom.org.uk