Edinburgh goes for gold in 2009 RHS Britain in Bloom finals

Edinburgh goes for gold in 2009 RHS Britain in Bloom finals

The community of Edinburgh has
been chosen to represent Scotland* in the
Large City
category of the Royal Horticultural Society's Britain in
Bloom UK Finals. Edinburgh will
compete against sixty-seven other finalist towns, cities and villages over the
summer months, to be awarded with either a gold, silver gilt, silver or bronze
medal at the awards ceremony in September.

RHS Britain in Bloom is the UK's
largest horticultural competition. It encourages people to join together to
improve their local environments, through gardening sustainably and caring for
their green spaces.

Competing in the Large City category,
Edinburgh is working
hard to beat London rivals
the London Borough of Croydon to win.

Britain
in Bloom started in 1964 to support communities working together to transform
their local surroundings. Today the competition has evolved with new judging
criteria to give greater importance to community participation and environmental
responsibility.  Hundreds of thousands of
plants will be planted to impress the judges during the summer judging tour, but
to reach the top mark entrants will need to demonstrate community involvement
and due care for the environment.

Stephanie Eynon,
Community Horticulture Manager at the RHS, said, "Just reaching the RHS Britain
in Bloom UK finals is an achievement in itself, as the communities participating are
the best from their regional or national* competitions.

"Although we know
this year will present its own unique challenges such as the downturn in the
economy, we know we can look forward to seeing some tremendous horticultural
achievement, innovative environmental initiatives and a fantastic amount of
community participation."

Over the year a
diverse range of communities will come together to take part in Britain in
Bloom; from  residents associations,
schools, local government departments, parks, historical and conservation groups,
transport and food organisations - all working to make their local area a
better place to live, work and visit.

By taking part in
RHS Britain in Bloom, communities have reported a drop in anti-social
behaviour, a rise in civic pride, the coming together of disparate groups and
improved green spaces. To find out more visit www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom

To find out more about Britain in Bloom
log onto http://www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom

RHS Britain in
Bloom 2009 is due to be launched in March 2009 with new judging criteria and a
greater focus on community participation and environmental responsibility.  For more information contact Eulina Clairmont
in the press office.

There
are 18 regions and nations that participate in RHS Britain in Bloom. In the
first year of the competition communities compete at a regional/national level
before being put forward to the UK finals - (Nations) Scotland, Ulster, Wales;
(Regions) Anglia, Cumbria, East Midlands, Guernsey, Heart of England, Isle of
Man, Jersey, London, Northumbria, North West , South, South East, South West,   Thames & Chilterns, Yorkshire..

RHS Britain in Bloom Finalists 2009

Champion of
Champions: Earsdon, Falkland,
Ravenfield

Large City: Edinburgh, London
Borough of Croydon

City: London
Borough of Islington, Newport, Plymouth, Stockton-on-Tees

Urban Community: Aldwick
(Bognor Regis), Birmingham City
Centre, Dulwich (London), Eston
(Middlesbrough, Kippax (Leeds), Manchester City
Centre, Moor (Oxmoor, Huntingdon), Port Marine &Village Quarter (Portishead),
Uddingston (Glasgow)

Large Town/Small
City (35k - 100K): Bedford, Chester, Harrogate,
Lodonderry,

Newcastle-Under-Lyme

Large Town/Small
City (12k - 35K): Bury, Durham,
Glenrothes, Kendal, Wisbech

Coastal (12k
& above): Bangor,
Bridlington, Cleethorpes, Colwyn Bay, Herne Bay, South
Shields, St. Andrews, Scotland

Coastal (12k
&below): Hayle, Hunstanton, Lytham, St. Brelade, Swanage

Town: Morpeth, Oakham,
Rustington, Thornbury, IIkley

Small Town: Grouville, Liphook, Pitlochry,
Ramsey,Tetbury

Large Village:Barwick
in Elmet, Broughshane, East Hagbourne,
Kinneswood, Kirkby Stephen,

Limpsfield,
St. Andrews,
Usk, Wedmore

Village: Appleton
Wiske, Chipping, Duffus, Filby, Rosliston, Scarva

Small Village: Stanghow, Tarrington Village

The RHS believes that gardening improves the quality of life and that
everyone should have access to great garden experiences. As a charity we help
to bring gardening into people's lives and support gardeners of all levels and
abilities; whether they are expert horticulturists or children who are planting
seeds for the very first time.

RHS membership is for anyone with an interest in
gardening. Support the RHS and secure a healthy future for gardening. For more
information call: 0845 130 4646, or visit www.rhs.org.uk

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262