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 2025 results will be announced at the “Harrogate in Bloom” Awards evening on 8th October at The Cedar Court Hotel.
Children's Art Competition 2025
The first competition of the year is always for children. The theme of our 2025 competition is
'250 YEARS OF THE USA’
Children between the ages of seven and eleven years are challenged to design a flower bed on this theme, which will be planted in 2026, on the circular bed near the main entrance of the Valley Gardens.
Children's Art Competition 2024
The theme of the 2024 competition was 'Peace'. Children from Ashville Prep, Brackenfield, Coppice Valley, Oatlands Junior, Richard Taylor, Rossett Acre, St Peter’s and Willow Tree Schools entered the competition and the winning design was by Tabitha Dalglish, aged 7, from St Peter's School. The bed will be planted in 2025.
Tabitha suggested Spring flowers for her design, but as summer bedding plants will be needed, the gardeners will choose summer plants, but of similar colours to those suggested by Tabitha.
Harrogate in Bloom Awards 2025
The categories for the Harrogate in Bloom Awards 2025 are:
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Hotels and Guest Houses
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Pubs and Restaurants
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Communal grounds
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Residential Community
Judges are looking for:
● A good first impression
● Planting which is appropriate in colour and scale to the surroundings, with summer interest.
● Containers of appropriate size and style
● Paving, paths etc which complement the surroundings and are well-maintained.
● Plants which are in good condition, disease free and well maintained.
● The whole area should be clean and litter free.
● Noticeable environmental features and/or residents’ involvement.
Click the pdf icon for the entry form:
School Garden Award 2025
Harrogate in Bloom’s School Garden Award is for all schools - both Primary/Junior Schools and Secondary/Senior Schools.
The trophy is for the best School Garden.
Judges are looking for:
• A good first impression
• Are you making a difference to your school environment?
• Do you work hard to keep it looking beautiful for
everyone visiting your school to enjoy?
• Does your garden encourage wildlife?
• Are the pupils directly involved in creating and maintaining
the garden?
If you are proud of your School Garden, we would love you to enter our competition.
Click on the pdf icon for the entry form:
Oatlands Infant School, Oatlands Junior School and St Aidan's CE Secondary School entered the 2024 competition. The winner was Oatlands Junior School.
Floral Shop Window Competition 2025 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.
Judges will award points for key aspects including innovation and a ‘wow factor’, planting, size and style of containers, maintenance of paving, paths and signage, condition of the plants and noticeable environmentally friendly features.
A trophy will be presented to the overall winner. The results will be announced at the “Harrogate in Bloom” Awards evening on 8th October at Cedar Court Hotel.
Closing date for entries: 29th June 2025 Judging will take place between 14– 26 July
Click on the pdf. icon for an entry form:
The 2024 winner was Piglet in Bed on James Street.
2024 Competition winners
Children's Art Competition
School Gardens Award
Shop Window Competition
Hotels & Guesthouses
Communal Grounds
Pubs and Restaurants
Residential Communities
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
Edgar Scholey Shield
Harrogate Chamber of Trade & Commerce Trophy Harrogate Borough Council Trophy President’s Award Mayor’s Trophy
Tabitha Dalglish
Oatlands Junior School
Piglet in Bed
The Yorkshire Hotel
Low Harrogate Bowling Club
The Fat Badger
Swan Court
Pine Street Allotments
Rossett Nature Reserve
Peter Walker
Oatlands Junior School
Liz Bailey
For a full list of award winners click on the pdf.