This year the Royal Horticultural Society is celebrating 50 years of the Britain in Bloom Competition. To celebrate this landmark anniversary the RHS are giving away 500,000 golden sunflower seeds to Britain in Bloom community groups across the UK to plant in their neighbourhoods. To coincide with the competition’s national launch activity the RHS are encouraging communities to have gardening events where they plant golden flowers including the free sunflowers.

Britain in bloom was established in 1963 by the British tourist board as an initiative to make Britain bright and
attractive. In 2002 the organisation passed to the Royal horticultural society and the initiative has grown 35% in the last three years so it now incorporates over 1,600 different communities of various sizes. In each community a group of local volunteers works around the year to create a beautiful array of floral displays in their area.

Communities enter the Britain in bloom competition and they can choose to do so at regional or national level. The size of the community and volunteering unit will be taken to account. Of the 1,600 community groups involved around 75 are selected to attend the annual UK Finals. Prizes are awarded on three criteria:

-          Horticultural achievement

-          Community participation

-          Environmental responsibility

To launch the Golden anniversary of RHS’s Britain in Bloom campaign local ‘Growing for Gold’ events are being held between 14 – 20 April 2014. You can find local events on the National Gardening week website or you could organise your own event in your community. The plants that the Royal Horticultural Society hope to planted include golden coloured flowers to represent the significant anniversary and those that are also good pollinators to encourage bees and butterflies.

You could create your own gorgeous golden garden to acknowledge the 50^th anniversary of Britain in Bloom in your own back yard. Yellow and gold plants that you could plant include:

-          Crocus

-          Winter aconite

-          Marigolds

-          Evening primrose

-          Nasturtium

-          False fennel

-          Creeping zinnia

Getting your garden to and perfectly manicured and managed standard is no easy feat, but what’s the point in a garden paradise if you can’t show it off and share it with people? Those who have a garden they are truly proud of could host open garden days, garden parties or a coffee morning to raise money for the Royal Horticultural Society.

Holding an open garden as a fundraiser is easy, just make sure you publicise it well in local publications, social media and word of mouth. Remember to invest in plenty of tea and cakes to refresh your guests and to add the finishing touch to your golden garden invest in some of luxury garden furniture. Verdon Grey’s ranges of furniture are made of the highest quality, weather resistant materials. We have styles to suit every garden and items to suit every purpose. After strolling round the grounds, your guests will appreciate relaxing in these smart chairs; allowing your garden to be further admired from the comfort of the patio.