Entries are now open for Sidmouth in Bloom’s Floral Competition, in which everyone can take part.

There are 20 categories for individuals, groups or businesses to enter, including large, medium and small gardens, biodiversity gardens, hanging baskets/pots, shops, hotels, café/pub/restaurant, children’s patches, churches and neighbourhoods.

Entry tickets are in the printed Sidmouth Herald. Send your contact details and the category you are entering to: Sidmouth in Bloom Floral Competition, 26 Coulsdon Rd, Sidmouth, EX10 9JP. Alternatively, submit the details via email to info@sidmouthinbloom.org

The closing date for entries is the end of August, and the results will be announced at the ‘Celebration of Success’ evening in October (date to be confirmed), to which all entrants are invited.

The South West in Bloom judges have visited....

Meanwhile, Sidmouth had its visit from the RHS Britain in Bloom South West judges on Thursday, July 20

Judges Richard Beale and Nigel Bloxham toured the town’s floral displays in the morning and then, after lunch, visited the RHS ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ entries. These included the 'Coral Seating Area & Wave Borders’ at the Ham with Louise Cole, Coco Hodgkinson and Lynette Talbot, the 'Sidmouth Arboretum' lead by their Chair, Jon Ball at Long Park, Woolbrook, 'The Sidbashers', led by Dean Clayton on the day, 'The Volunteer Inn Seating Area’ with Ted and Lynne Horler, and ‘Margaret's Meadow and Livonia Street Shrubbery with the Sid Vale Association. 

The morning tour included other volunteer groups - ’The Sensory Garden’ (SIB), the 'Chairman’s Garden’, and for a first judges visit, the ‘Friends of Glen Goyle’.

The judges commented on the amount of work being done in the town and said they were impressed by the community effort.

The Belmont Hotel hosted the welcome and presentation for the judges, who then visited its gardens. Tom Griffen sponsored the 'taxi’ for the judges’ tour of the town with his historic ‘toast rack’ car, which attracted attention and waves from local children.

Sidmouth in Bloom would like to thank all the volunteers, the It’s Your Neighbourhood groups and the district council’s managers and gardeners who turned up to show the variety of work being done in the town. They are also grateful to the ladies who prepared and cleared lunch.