The South & South East in Bloom campaign is the largest horticultural campaign in the region involving 100’s communities each year. Participating communities create lasting improvements to their local environment for the benefit of those that live, work and visit.

Who can get involved?

Everyone!

South & South in Bloom is an inclusive campaign and any community, no matter how small or large can get involved. To enter South & South in Bloom you need to enter your whole community, not just part of it, and you enter into the category that corresponds to your size based on electoral roll or area. In South & South in Bloom, we do however have a number of exceptions; the Urban Communities category is one that allows smaller satellite areas within a larger area (Local Authority) to enter directly. Alternatively, you could enter a Park, Cemetery, Churchyard and for smaller groups such as community gardens or allotments you could enter our It’s Your Neighbourhood Campaign.

Often communities first participate in their local “in Bloom” before getting involved in the regional campaign but it doesn’t have to be that way, we are happy to receive direct entries.

Why South & South East in Bloom?

South & South in Bloom is a unique campaign that enables communities to work across different areas and address a number of issues. It is the only campaign that takes this more integrated approach to community improvement and which uses gardening & horticulture as its foundation. Participating communities are asked to focus their initiatives on three main areas:

• Horticultural Achievement
• Environmental Responsibility
• Community Participation

This means “in Bloom” communities tackle everything from litter, graffiti and anti-social behaviour through to conservation, sustainability and improving horticultural standards, and that’s not to mention the positive impact on the sense of place, community spirit and pride.

What are the benefits?

• Communities that participate in South & South in Bloom benefit in a variety of ways but the most common benefits are:
• Cleaner and greener surroundings
• Creating a sense of community through improvement of public spaces and positive interaction between community members
• An increase in civic pride and sense of community empowerment by engaging people in the improvement of their own community
• Safer environments for the enjoyment of local people
• Long term improvement for the environment by addressing issues such as sustainability, resource management, conservation, litter, graffiti etc.
• Reduction in anti-social behaviour
• Positive effects on the local economy such as increased commercial enterprise and increased tourism
• Regeneration of run down and/or disadvantaged areas