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Harrogate in Bloom Competitions

Harrogate in Bloom values the contribution made by all floral features in the town. Throughout the year we run a number of competitions to recognise endeavour and to encourage more involvement.

 

All entrants are judged against standards set by the RHS. The 2026 results will be announced at the “Harrogate in Bloom” Awards evening on 6th October at The Cedar Court Hotel.

Children's Art Competition 2026

The first competition of the year is always for children. The theme of our 2026 competition is

'SUNSHINE’

​Children between the ages of seven and eleven years are challenged to design a flower bed on this theme, which will be planted in 2027, in the circular bed near the main entrance of the Valley Gardens.

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The theme of the 2025 competition was "250 years of the USA"

 

There were entries from Ashville Preparatory School, Brackenfield School, Coppice Valley Primary School, Oatlands Junior School, Richard Taylor C of E School, Rossett Acre Primary School, St Peter’s School, Willow Tree School and 5 entries were short-listed.

 

Poppy Garbutt from Willow Tree School designed this colourful winning entry.  Poppy's design will be planted up for the summer of 2026.

Harrogate in Bloom Awards 2026​​

The categories for the Harrogate in Bloom Awards 2026 are:

  • Hotels

  • Guest Houses

  • Pubs and Restaurants

  • Care Homes

  • Communal grounds

  • Residential Community

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Judges will consider: 

  • The range, quality and maintenance of planting

  • Decorative features

  • Well-maintained boundaries, paving, paths etc. Litter-free.

  • Community participation

  • The overall impression

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      For the entry form and criteria for judging click on pdf.

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The 2025 winners are given below. 

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School Playground & Garden Award 2026

Harrogate in Bloom’s School Playground & Garden Award is for all schools - both Primary Schools and Secondary Schools. 

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Gardening in school could consist of raised beds, containers or areas of your school grounds planted with bee-loving flowers, colourful flowers, vegetables or fruit - there are many possibilities. 

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Judges are looking for:

  • The range, quality and maintenance of planting

  • Examples of encouraging biodiversity

  • Composting, water-harvesting and recycling

  • Student and school participation

  • The overall impression

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     For the entry form and criteria for judging click on the pdf.

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Coppice Valley Primary School, Harrogate Grammar School, Hookstone Chase Primary School, Oatlands Infant School, Oatlands Junior School, Rossett Acre Primary School and Western Primary School entered the 2025 competition. The winner was Rossett Acre Primary School.​​
 

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Floral Shop Window Competition 2026 in partnership with Harrogate Business Improvement District

The Harrogate BID team, working in partnership with Harrogate in Bloom, are once again holding a Floral Shop Window Competition, encouraging local businesses to celebrate our town’s floral heritage. The competition is designed to coincide with the BID's Floral Summer of Celebration.

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Judges awarded points for key aspects including innovation, how the floral display links to the business, quality of the floral features, cleanliness and the overall impression.

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The McCrindle trophy will be presented to the overall winner at the “Harrogate in Bloom” Awards evening on 6th October at Cedar Court Hotel.

 

​​                                         The 2025 winner was Helen James on Station Parade.

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Allotment Competition 2026

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For 2026, Harrogate in Bloom are organising the judging of the eight Harrogate allotment sites - Claro Road, Harlow Hill, Oatlands, Pine Street, North Outfall, Stonefall, Unity Grove and St Andrews.

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Judges are looking for:

  • Range, quality and maintenance of planting

  • Evidence of encouraging biodiversity

  • Composting, Water-harvesting and recycling

  • Community participation

  • The overall impression 

   

Trophies will be awarded to the site and the plot with the most points.

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2025 Competition winners

Children's Art Competition

School Garden Award            

Shop Window Competition      

Hotels & Guesthouses             

 

Communal Grounds                 

Pubs and Restaurants             

Residential Communities 

Care Homes      

Best Allotment site                  

Discretionary Award                

Best Allotment Plot                

Discretionary   Award             

 

Discretionary Award                    

Christine Dean Cup

Hammond Mann Trophy                     

McCrindle Trophy                             

Crowther Trophy                               

 

Harrogate in Bloom Shield                 

Parks Dept. Rose Shield                   

Bettys Teapot

Hampden House Trophy                                    

Edgar Scholey Shield                       

Harrogate Chamber of Trade & Commerce Trophy  Harrogate Borough Council Trophy                        President’s Award                                               

 

Mayor’s Trophy                                                    

Poppy Garbutt

Rossett Acre Primary School

Helen James

The White Hart Hotel - The Fat Badger

Raworths Solicitors

The Pickled Sprout

Swan Court

Manor House

Pine Street Allotments

Piglet in Bed

Peter Walker

Nick Smith, Harrogate Flower Shows

Pam Grant

For a full list of award winners click on the pdf.

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