Judging day for South & South East in Bloom

Alexander planting his seeds

Children especially enjoyed planting out a salad box

Choosing which seeds to plant

Alexander with his completed box

A variety of seeds to choose from

A small queue developed

The judges visited Temptation Cafe in Gardner Street to see the vegetable planting at the back

The judges also visited Pelham Square to hear about how this garden had been upgraded over the past five years

Gearing up for the competition on 6th July 2011

By Jackie Fuller, North Laine resident

Brighton & Hove once again entered the South & South East in Bloom regional competition in 2011. In 2010 the city had won a Silver Gilt and this year was hoping to be awarded a Gold, although at the time of writing this the competition results haven’t yet been announced.

The judging route

The judging took place on Wednesday 6th July 2011 and the route took in both Kensington Place and - for the first time - Pelham Square.

Free salad boxes for people from these streets

Points are usually awarded for sustainability and environmental awareness, so as part of the preparation for our entry, a workshop was organised jointly with Harvest Brighton & Hove on Saturday 25th June in Pelham Square. Free window boxes were provided to anyone who wanted one from those streets, together with free compost and seeds for cut-and-come-again salad leaves.

Children enjoyed planting their seeds

Not quite as many people came to collect their boxes as had been hoped, but those who did really enjoyed planting their seeds, especially the children! How wonderful to have fresh salad leaves whenever you want them.

Thanks for enabling the workshop

Many thanks to B&H City Council and to Harvest Brighton & Hove for enabling this workshop to take place.

[Previously published in the North Laine Runner, No 211, July/August 2011]