Spelthorne in bloom 2025 - judging criteria

Enter the Spelthorne in Bloom competition

Best Front Garden

Your garden must be visible to the public from the footpath. It will be judged on the design, variety of planting, plant health, colour combinations, condition of soil/weed free, and any special features to enhance the overall impression.

Best Hanging Basket/s

One or more baskets will be judged on the variety of planting, plant health, and colour combinations.

Best Riverside Garden

These gardens must directly overlook the river. If they can't be viewed from the towpath, they will be judged by boat. Similar judging criteria as for front gardens.

Best Kept Allotment

We will be looking for a plot that is productive, with a variety of planting, and healthy crops. Allotments must be kept clean, free from weeds, well manured, and maintained in a good state of cultivation and address sustainability and environmental issues.

Entries will be encouraged from individual plot holders rather than nominated by the site representatives as in previous years.

Best Kept Pub

We will judge the variety of planting, plant health, colour combinations plus overall cleanliness and tidiness of the area.

Best Place of Worship/War Memorial/Public Building

We will judge the variety of planting, plant health, colour combinations, condition of soil/weed free, and any special features which enhance the overall impression.

Best Community Garden or Allotment Project

This category is divided into two sections: best community garden and best community allotment.

Entrants must choose one appropriate category.

Best Community Garden

The variety of planting, plant health, colour combinations, and condition of soil/weed free will be considered. The judges will be assessing how the local community is involved: for example: public access, maintenance, seating, special events, regular events, training programmes.

or

Best Community Allotment

The overall condition of the plot, variety of planting, health, condition of soil/weed free, and efforts to address environmental issues, and sustainability will be considered. The judges will be assessing how the local community is involved, for example: maintenance, special events, regular events, training programmes and any the use of produce (e.g. foodbanks).

Best Horticultural/Environmental Initiative

This category is to recognise groups, communities, and societies in Spelthorne that promote horticulture and environmental conservation and can include local groups that provide education on sustainable environmental practices and how they can support wildlife and biodiversity.

As part of the entry process please provide us with a brief outline describing the project objectives and achievements and include images if appropriate. Submissions can include but are not limited to: encouraging wildlife with planting or special features e.g. boxes/log piles/water/ponds etc, clearing overgrown land/rivers/lakes, planting trees, hedgehog conservation, tackling climate change and water management.

Most Attractive Local Area within the Wards of Spelthorne

Nominated by Spelthorne & Surrey Councillors, this award highlights well-kept, attractive areas that enhance the community but are not maintained by the council. A range of areas can be nominated, for example a whole Village or a High Street. Projects will include those organised by residents' associations or local groups/communities.

Best New Entrant - to be decided by committee judges

Best in Show - to be decided by committee judges