Islington in Bloom returns for 2024 – and the whole borough is invited to get growing!

Supporting the council's mission to create a greener, healthier and more attractive Islington, the competition aims to get local people, community groups and businesses gardening to create a more attractive, wildlife friendly borough. The competition also provides an opportunity to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of gardening and helps build friendships and bring communities together. 

You don’t need to have any experience, or even a garden, to take part; there are a number of categories to apply for including best windowsill, best community garden, and best tree pit garden. 

Dorothy Boswell from Islington Gardeners who helps judge the competition said: “The judges aren't looking for perfection – we really want to see interesting gardens that use recycled and sustainable materials to promote biodiversity and provide habitats for wildlife. 

“This year we are keen to see some fantastic tree pit gardens; this is a wonderful way for local people to get involved in greening their streets, and creating ‘wildlife corridors’ to assist birds, insects and other pollinators with food and shelter as they move between the borough's green spaces.  

“People can also nominate a project that isn’t theirs, just by giving us the location; it’s a lovely surprise for people to realise that someone has nominated them!” 

Councillor Rowena Champion, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Transport, said: “Islington in Bloom is a much-loved competition that local people, community groups and businesses enjoy taking part in each year to help create a greener, healthier borough.  

“Taking part in In Bloom provides significant benefits to people’s mental and physical wellbeing that come from working with nature, helping us to tackle the climate crisis through creating habitat, shelter and food for wildlife, as well as creating shade and run-off areas for rain.  

“This year I'd really encourage people who haven’t taken part before to give it a go; there is a category for everyone whether you have access to a garden or not, and all entrants will get a free bag of compost to help them continue their gardening!” 

The closing date for applications is Friday 7 June. For more information on the different categories, and how to apply, please visit www.islington.gov.uk/inbloom  

The categories for this year's Islington in Bloom are: 

• Best community garden  
• Best park 
• Best estate  
• Best children’s planting  
• Best edible garden    
• Best window box 
• Best container garden   
• Best front garden  
• Best tree pit garden 
• Best blooming business  
• Best street   
• Best hidden gem 

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors for their generosity: The Islington Society, Active Landscapes, Islington Housing Service, Angel Central, Blakedown Landscapes, Partners for Islington, Camden Garden Centre, Thor's Trees, N1 Garden Centre, The Angel Association, Islington Gardeners, Warwick Landscaping, Marlborough Highways and Holloway Park, and NSL. 

Further information on the volunteering opportunities and activities at Islington’s parks and green spaces are available on the council’s website.