Certificates of Merit 2024
Please contact Lynne Wright, Certificates of Merit Coordinator, certificates@buryinbloom.org.uk
In 2022, following RHS briefing, Bury In Bloom front garden judging changed its scoring system. Gardeners can be awarded more points by having more sustainable elements in their front garden. Additionally houses with no front garden or one used for parking can also be awarded points by introducing floral displays. The judging area was increased last year to include Marham Park and Moreton Hall.
Bury in Bloom Certificates of Merit Front Garden judging, 2024
On June 24th judges met for briefing and to meet team leaders and fellow judges. There is a short summary below of the key points.
Here is a link to a video of the briefing event, there is a further link to the full Powerpoint presentation on there:
Judging will be from sunrise on July 4th until sunset on July 14th. No need to enter as all gardens within the borough of Bury St Edmunds will be viewed with Certificates delivered to those gardens that score 8 points or higher. On this website the scoring criteria are listed. This includes Marham Park and Moreton Hall which takes us to over 20,000 front gardens.
For insurance reasons gardens can only be viewed from the pavement or end of drive. Judges will only enter your garden to put a certificate through your letterbox.
If you are aware of someone with a very challenging life but finds escape and satisfaction in their garden, please email before judging starts so judges can be made aware.
After 14th July any queries please email certificates@buryinbloom.org.uk so the team can respond to any concerns.
Some useful information to help you is below, click on the link to open a document
Certificate of Merit points system for judging 2024
Guidelines for front garden judges 2024
Certificates of Merit photos 2023
Some photos of last year’s awards:
Certificates of Merit 2021
See some photos of last year’s awards here at Certificates of Merit gardens 2021
Certificates of Merit 2020
Budding Bury in Bloomers
A team of Bury in Bloom volunteers will be visiting the front of every property looking for the best gardens, pots and hanging baskets worthy of a certificate of merit. The judging will commence on July 13th 2020 and be completed by the 19th. All front gardens, pots and hanging baskets which are visible from the footpath are eligible.
Chance to win a certificate of merit in this years Bury in Bloom for the keenest gardeners
As well as a certificate of merit, there is a highly commended award. David Irvine Bury in Bloom Coordinator, said: “The highly commended award is for gardens which make a significant impact on the neighbourhood. In addition in 2020 for the first time, we are introducing ‘House Champion’ the best of the best”.
The certificates are awarded to residential and commercial properties displaying attractive use of garden and container grown plants at the front of their property that enhance the appearance of their neighbourhood.
The Highly Commended Award is given to gardens of particular merit.
No entry is necessary and our team of over 90 judges will be looking at front gardens all over Bury St Edmunds in the middle of July and pop a certificate through the door.
We also have a Highly commended award given to those gardens that make a significant impact on their neighbourhood.
If you would like to nominate a friend of neighbour then please let us know.
Bury In Bloom and Hazells encourage gardening in rental properties front gardens.
Left to right, Elizabeth Clement Certificate of Merit Co-ordinator, Melanie Lesser Bury in Bloom Co-ordinator, Mike Ely winner of the voucher, Chris Oakes Hazells letting agents.
Bury in Bloom now offer rental properties the chance to win a £50 gardening voucher if they received a Certificate of Merit from the Bury in Bloom volunteer judges in July.
A previous winner was Mike Ely and his front garden in Crown Street is well know to both residents and visitors alike.
He gets many compliments as people walk towards The Theatre Royal and the Greene King Brewery Café or back into town.
David Irvine, Bury in Boom Co-ordinator, says ‘ We were grateful to Hazells who donated the prize for the competition, which was open to any rented property in the town who was awarded a Certificate of Merit. We hope to run the promotion again with even more tenants of rental properties putting themselves forward for the prize, so watch out for updates.’
