Cumbria town hopeful ahead of Britain in Bloom 2010

Whitehaven will have one eye on this years Britain in Bloom competition after its place as a finalist was confirmed.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) judges will visit the Cumbrian town in August after bloom year officially begins on March 24th, with the event culminating in an awards ceremony on September 29th, the Whitehaven News reports.

A mass planting initiative will begin in Whitehaven during the spring as it looks to beat off competition from rivals in Fareham, Derry, Crawley and Bedford.

In addition to judging entries, RHS visitors will also advise participants on how to improve their floral displays should they choose to enter the competition in future years.

Britain in Bloom began in 1964 as a way of improving the look of Britains towns by putting up hanging baskets, planting bedding plants and arranging flower displays.

The winner will receive a gold medal as well as the accolade of having the UKs best bloom.

Whitehaven has won the Cumbria in Bloom competitions large town category on nine separate occasions, while in 2005 and 2006 it represented the county in the national finals.