September 30th 2021
The RHS have launched a new set of (virtual) awards named RHS Community Awards; they aim to highlight how community gardeners are supporting their local area.
According to an RHS survey in July 2020 of RHS-registered community gardening groups, 91% of those groups carried on gardening, maintaining all-important green spaces and harnessing their skills to help others, from growing food to lifting people’s spirits via imaginative planting displays.
This new set of awards are to replace the annual RHS Britain in Bloom UK Finals competition this year. There will be entrants invited to enter from 63 community gardening groups across the UK and span the following categories:
- Nourishing Your Community - Growing, sharing or enjoying food with others
- Nature-friendly Gardening - Creating habitats and using wildlife-friendly gardening practices
- Green Solutions – Tackling environmental challenges such as climate change, air pollution and flooding
- Cultivating Your Community – Bringing people together by involving a wide cross-section of the community
- Planting with Purpose - Addressing specific challenges such as transforming a neglected area or reducing antisocial behaviour
The results of the RHS Community Awards will be announced at the end of September 2021 - with all participants receiving certificates.
Kay Clark, RHS Community Development Manager said: “We’ve been truly inspired by the creativity and ingenuity that volunteers have shown throughout the pandemic, supporting their communities while observing the social distancing rules.
While we’re not able to run the Britain in Bloom UK Finals competition this year, the RHS Community Awards will shine a light on groups’ fantastic efforts during a challenging time.”
For more information, please visit:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/communities/find-a-group-search-form
Source: RHS Press Release