In Bloom gardening competition

We are delighted to announce the launch of our 2026 In Bloom customer gardening competition!

Back due to popular demand and the fantastic variety of entries received in last year's competition, we’re inviting new and returning customers from all areas across our geography to take part in this year's customer gardening competition by sharing their green skills and vibrant green spaces. The In Bloom competition is a great way to celebrate customers who go the extra mile to create beautiful displays of greenery in our communities and positively impact the local environment.

This year’s competition is bigger than ever before as we’ve teamed up with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and award-winning garden designer The Beardy Gardener to provide expert advice for applicants and to sit on the judging panel. The judging panel will feature: 

  • Luke Carpenter, two-time In Bloom competition winner and Swindon-based SNG customer
  • Rosie Carr, Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Senior Community Horticultural Specialist
  • The Beardy Gardener, award-winning garden designer
  • Mark Washer, SNG CEO.

There are £200, £100 and £50 gift voucher prizes up for grabs for the respective first, second and third place winner in each of our four categories, as well as a personalised trophy and certificate for all winners. 

Applications are open now until Tuesday 30 June 2026!

Categories

There are 4 different categories that you can apply for:


Thriving Community Garden

Poppy Community Garden - Thriving Community Garden award_1

This award is for individual customers or groups who have come together to create and maintain a thriving community garden or shared green space, contributing to the improvement of a communal area and reducing waste and litter.

We are looking for inclusive and accessible community participation in visually appealing gardens with undeniable wow-factor and a range of greenery. It’s also important to show off the efforts made to recycle and reduce waste and plastics in your community garden.

Small Garden Innovator

This award is for individual customers who have creatively utilised smaller gardens, balconies, or indoor spaces to create vibrant green spaces within their homes through the use of hanging baskets, containers, houseplants and more.

We’re looking for innovative layouts and use of space, healthy well-maintained plants, originality, practicality and sustainable methods.

Luke Carpenter - Small Garden Innovator award_3

Sustainable Garden Innovator

Willow May - Sustainable Garden award_3

This award is for individual customers who have cultivated eco-friendly, sustainable gardens and green spaces.

We’re looking for outstanding and creative sustainable solutions, pollinator friendly gardens, recycled elements, homegrown produce, plant diversity and clear positive impact on the environment.

Home Garden in Bloom

This award celebrates vibrant private green spaces created by individual customers, that add beauty and biodiversity to the local area while showcasing some 'best-practice' gardening skills.

We are looking for diverse green spaces with co-ordinated designs, a great use of space, creative personal touches and impressive maintenance standards.

Sophia Newman_Home Garden In Bloom winner_4

Prizes 

All winners per category will receive a personalised trophy and certificate, as well as the following:

  • 1st place winners will receive a £200 Amazon Voucher
  • 2nd place winners will receive a £100 Amazon Voucher
  • 3rd place winners will receive a £50 Amazon Voucher

In addition, 1st place winners will be offered a professional photoshoot in their winning garden or green space. They will also be visited by a member of judging panel, a representative from our Community Investment and Strategic Partnerships team or our senior leadership team to learn more about the story behind their amazing garden. You can see the photos from last year’s winners throughout this page! 

These photography visits will be taking place from July to early August subject to winners’ availability.


How to apply

Important note: Customers who wish to enter the competition must complete the below application form, and send pictures of their garden or green space with their name and address to: Community.Investment@sng.org.uk

Apply now (opens in a new window)


Applications close on Tuesday 30 June 2026.


Need some inspiration to get started? 

We recommend watching the video below from The Beardy Gardener, award-winning garden designer and In Bloom judge, for top tips on how to brighten up your green space, and how to make your garden stand out from the crowd for the In Bloom competition! 

We also highly recommend the RHS Wellbeing Garden Blueprint for practical ideas and real-life success stories that can get you started- check it out here: RHS Wellbeing Garden Blueprint / RHS Opens in new window


Contact Us

If you would like to find out more about the In Bloom gardening competition, the work that we do within Community Investment, or get involved in any other community-led initiatives run at SNG please email Community.Investment@sng.org.uk.

If you would like to take part in our gardening competition but cost is a barrier to getting started, please email Community.Investment@sng.org.uk so we can discuss how we may support you to take part.