Time to ‘Lend a Hand’– as Translink Ulster In Bloom competition gets underway!
Ards and North Down Borough Council has launched this year’s Translink Ulster In Bloom competition for 2022.
The annual, green-fingered awards boost civic pride across Northern Ireland, encouraging cities, towns and villages to look their best with striking floral displays and seasonal plants which often represent the history, culture and unique features of each area.
The core competition criteria, ‘Horticultural, Environment and Community’ helps to instil local pride, create awareness of the environment and biodiversity, while also encouraging cross community participation and involvement from people of all ages in the Borough. The competition is judged July to early August.
Volunteer judges travel in pairs and follow prepared itineraries so that every place is visited over the key summer period. Besides selecting the best entries, judges also select a few special awards and choose the entries most likely to represent Northern Ireland in the national RHS Britain in Bloom competition.
Competition categories include: Small Village, Large Village, Small Town, Town, Large Town, City, Roses in Towns, Judge’s Special Awards, Translink Community Champion, Floral Station and Most Improved.
Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Karen Douglas said:
“I am delighted to help launch the Translink Ulster In Bloom competition in Ards and North Down. The competition is always hugely popular in our Borough with residents, community groups and businesses taking part each year.
The Translink Ulster In Bloom campaign is hugely important as it promotes sustainability within the Borough, while also giving people the chance to take some time out and enjoy the many environmental and health benefits gardening has to offer.
The Translink In Bloom competition helps boost civic pride and encourages our residents to make the most of the beautiful outdoor spaces we have on offer here in Ards and North Down.
Good luck to all those participating in this year’s competition – I look forward to seeing the beautiful displays you create.”
Ards and North Down Borough Council has also launched this year’s Ards and North Down In Bloom campaign and community competitions. There are several different categories that cater for people of all ages with great prizes available for winners and runners-up in each.
Categories include Best Kept Front Garden, Gardening for Wildlife, Best Kept Commercial Premises and Best Kept Community Planting Scheme. There are competitions specifically for young gardeners too, including the Painting Competition and the hotly contested Tallest Sunflower Competition.
If you are interested in participating in Translink Ulster In Bloom or entering this year’s Ards and North Down In Bloom community competition, then please contact the Council’s Parks Service on andparks@ardsnorthdown.gov.uk