Green-fingered residents are being invited to enter Fareham Borough Council's annual Fareham in Bloom community gardening competition.

This year, the event is sponsored by St Margaret's Nurseries and EcoSupport, and registration is open from today until July 2.

The competition is focused on celebrating and promoting gardening skills among the community residents and businesses.

Participants from around the borough have a chance to showcase their botanical creativity and flair with five categories to choose from.

These categories include the Best Garden, open to any residential garden, Businesses and Schools category for the commercial and educational sectors, Something Small for features such as hanging baskets and potted plants, Community category for outdoor communal areas and the Sustainable Garden category which encourages eco-friendly gardening methods.

Entering the garden contest is quite simple: just fill in a short online form and submit one photograph of the garden before the closing date.

Entrants in the Community category are allowed to submit up to three photographs.

The competition is free and each participant will receive a 10 per cent discount voucher for St Margaret’s Nurseries.

After July 2, the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite garden.

The two gardens with the highest votes in each category will receive a visit from a member of the judging panel and a community volunteer in August.

The panel will then determine the overall category winners based on the visit – with the exception of the Something Small category where the winner will be judged solely by photographs and descriptions.

Winners stand to receive a variety of prizes. The Best Garden category winner will get an annual subscription to the Council’s Garden Waste Scheme. Other category winners will each get a £30 voucher for St Margaret’s Nurseries.

Runners up are also set to get a £15 voucher.

In addition, the council has introduced the Mayor's Gold Award to commemorate the Borough’s forthcoming 50th anniversary in 2024.

Each category winner automatically becomes a contender for the special award, which comes with a £50 voucher for St Margaret's Nurseries.

A commemorative reception for all winners will be held in the Mayor’s Parlour this September.

Executive member for streetscene at Fareham Borough Council, Councillor Ian Bastable, said: "Getting creative with plants and nature is not only an enjoyable pastime, but it has significant benefits for individuals and the broader community.

"With the addition of this year’s unique Mayor’s Gold Award, there is no better time for residents and local businesses to be recognised for their efforts in the Borough's 50th year!"

More information about the competition and how to enter can be found on the council's website - www.fareham.gov.uk/inbloom.