Judging criteria

Plymouth in Bloom

Over the last three years the competition has gone from strength to strength with entry numbers rising annually. We now have a panel of local volunteers to judge all entries. Judging of all competition categories will begin in early July with the final judging taking place at the end of July.

All gold, silver and bronze award winners will be notified by the end of August. In September an awards ceremony will take place at the Plymouth Guildhall, where on 19 September winners will be presented with trophies, certificates and prizes.

Judging for shortlist will begin on 1 July. Final judging takes place 21 to 30 July. Judges will leave calling cards to let you know they have judged your entry.

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South West in Bloom

Judging will take place in July and takes four hours. The judges will be taken on a route around the city and will assess our entry on the following criteria:

Section A - floral displays

• The judges examine all local authority, business, commercial and residential floral displays and front gardens. They also look at the quality of design and standard of maintenance and grass cutting.

Section B - permanent landscaping, including shrubs

• For this section the judges mark the quality of design and standard of planting within all residential areas, industrial estates, business and retail parks, recycling sites and car parks.

Section C - local agenda 21 and sustainable development

• This section of the judging includes the nature conservation projects and education programmes the city provides to improve the environment and educate residents about how they can contribute to saving natural resources. They are looking for new and innovative ideas that have had an impact on the different areas of the community as well as having community involvement.

Section D - local environmental quality

• The general cleanliness of the city centre and other high profile public areas are also important within the judging criteria. The judges also examine residential areas and other functional areas, such as parks and open spaces for their levels of general cleanliness.

Section E - public awareness, publicity and promotion of Britain in bloom and sponsorship

• The final section of the judging criteria is the marketing, publicity and press activity that takes place to promote the competition and its ethos. They want to see evidence of communication information, organisation, fundraising, sponsorship and local media coverage.

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Entente Florale

There will be twelve European judges assessing Plymouth on the 4 August and judging will take eight hours. The judges will be taken on a route around the city and will assess our entry on the following criteria:

Section 1 - seasonal planting

• The judges will be examining containers (window boxes, hanging baskets, concrete, terracotta, even plastic containers!). They will also be examining flowers beds and will be assessing the quality and position of the planting.

Section 2 - permanent planting

• The judges will be examining perennials, shrubs, tree policy, protection, register and suitable position.

Section 3 - open spaces

• The quality and maintenance of green spaces, parks, public/botanic gardens, private front gardens, playing grounds and sport pitches, cemeteries, rivers, streams, ponds, lakes and their banks, plans and programmes/strategies, special projects.

Section 4 - landscape

• Integration into the landscape, green corridors, long term objectives, programmes, plans/strategies. Quality and maintenance of natural and protected areas, and of rivers, streams, ponds, lakes and their banks.

Section 5 - environment

• Waste, water, chemical products, sustainable energy.
• Private/public composting, green waste recovery, Selective waste collection in private households in shops and businesses, in public establishments etc, recycling if so. Sewage treatment plants, reduction of fresh water consumption. Responsible use of fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides. Thermal insulation, solar plants, biogas plants, use of wind power and petroleum gas for car drive etc.

Section 6 - environmental education

• Network of voluntary groups, events aiming at transmitting knowledge, account taken at school curricula (or youth groups/clubs) of the green or environmental dimension, initiation into gardening, visits, education to respect landscape, fauna and flora.

Section 7 - overall impression

• Streetscape, street furniture, respect for local and traditional elements, like regional architecture, heritage site and monuments. Prevention of graffiti, litter, billposting etc.

Section 8 - tourism and leisure

• Tourism information, hotels, guest houses, holiday flats, holiday programs for guests/tourists, value as an excursion destination. Playing grounds, sport pitches, hiking and biking trails, local community centre, cultural facilities and events, long term objectives, programs and strategies.

Section 9 - effort and involvement

• Effort by local and or/municipal authority, by local business such as hotels, restaurants, shops, factories. Opening to the public of private heritage gardens, botanic gardens etc. Flower, balcony, garden competitions.

Section 10 - presentation

• Information to the public, communication to the press, explanation to the jury.
• Policy and actions taken by the municipality/community to directly inform the public/inhabitants.
• Arrangements taken to inform the press, radio, TV by press conferences, press releases etc.
• Arrangements for the jury visit to present the entire town/city and urban life by brochures, PowerPoint presentation, explanations and onsite guidance.

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