West Londons top gardeners battle it out for Richmond in Bloom top prize

Some of London’s top amateur gardeners are placing their work open to expert scrutiny for this year’s Richmond in Bloom contest.

Seen by many as the main Greater London competition for amateurs in the run-up to the Chelsea Flower Show, the 2011 event will see more than 100 gardeners invite judges to see their year’s work.

According to the Richmond and Twickenham Times, this year’s Richmond in Bloom contest will see gardeners compete in 11 separate categories, among them best front gardens, best residential frontages and best floral display.

As well as local residents, businesses, including hotels and pubs, have also been invited to take part in the judging process, which will run until the end of the month.

Launching the start of the contest, organiser Pat Schooling told the newspaper that the strong sense of competition driving local residents could bode well for the town as a whole.

“It is hugely encouraging to see how enthusiastic everyone is about contributing to our chances of winning gold in Britain in Bloom,” she said.

This comes as Eastbourne Today has reported that Tesco has agreed to get behind the town’s ‘In Bloom’ competition this year