Islington in Bloom

There are lots of categories to enter, a front garden, tree pit or a community garden. You can enter as an individual, a community group, a business, or you can delight someone else by nominating their planting that you admire.

The categories for 2024 are: 

• Best community garden (large community gardens, community centres with staff)
• Best park (groups gardening in public open spaces)
• Best estate (estate gardening groups, residential care homes etc)
• Best children's planting (category for schools, children's centres, and projects led by children)
• Best edible garden (food growing)
• Best window garden
• Best container garden (majority of plants growing in containers)
• Best front garden (majority of plants growing in the ground)
• Best tree pit garden
• Best blooming business
• Best street (residents groups gardening eg multiple front gardens, tree pit gardens, parklets, etc)
• Best hidden gem (private spaces ie back gardens, roof terraces etc)

You can enter Islington in Bloom by emailing the details below to: inbloom@islington.gov.uk

The deadline for entries is 11.59pm Friday 14 June.

You will need:

• Two photos of your entry (Photos should try to represent your overall entry rather than close ups of individual elements eg flowers)

• The category you are entering 

• Your name 

• Your address 

• Your email address 

• Your phone number

• Are you nominating yourself or another project?

• Details of your nomination – or the project you are nominating

Photographs are important to help with judging. Please photograph as much of your planting as you can.

Before you start, wipe your camera lens with a lint-free cloth such as a glasses cloth. Activate HDR or high-resolution mode on your camera app (if applicable).

If possible take your photos from two different angles.

Do not submit photos of individual plants or people.

Often landscape format will help you capture more of your garden than portrait.

Avoid facing directly into the sun when taking photos – often cloudy days can help prevent awkward shadows.

For window boxes and balconies please include a view from the street.

In the past, gardening competitions were all about colourful hanging baskets and neatly trimmed lawns. This year we want to go further, so we have made some changes to the guidelines that will help you make a positive impact on biodiversity in our borough. 

Here are a few things to think about when planning your entry for Islington in Bloom:  

• Is your planting sustainable, with plants that can tolerate drier conditions and perennial plants instead of annual bedding plants? Are you collecting rain water and using mulch to suppress weeds and retain water? Have you used any recycled or upcycled materials? 
• Is it a good place for wildlife? Are there plants that provide food sources for birds, bees and other pollinators? Is there a small wild area for habitat? Is there a bird box or feeder, bug hotel, log pile, or small pond or water feature? 
• Is it attractive? Is there a good mixture of plants? Are there different textures, colours and shapes of leaves? Do you have plants that will provide interest all year round – evergreen shrubs, climbers or trees? 
• Is it well-tended, pruned, watered, and looking healthy? Is the planting suitable and does it work well in its location? 
• Does it include herbs, fruit, or vegetables? 

Check the website to stay up to date with the competition.  

For gardening tips and fun facts, follow our Instagram account @islingtoninbloom. Here you can also be inspired by the creations of some of last year’s winners. You can also share your work and help us promote the competition by using the hashtags #IslingtonBlooms and #IslingtonInBloom on Twitter and Instagram. 

We will inform entrants of the results by email.