A?CALL?has gone out to green-fingered folk to enter their gardens for this year’s Alton in Bloom competition.

The categories are best small front garden; best large front garden; best domestic hanging basket, window box, tub, patio or unusual container; best community building, residential premises or neighbourhood area; best school children’s garden – 1) pre-school, 2) school; best commercial premises (licensed, restaurants, shops); and best commemorative display.

This year’s commemorative display is in honour of the 200th anniversary of the death of literary legend Jane Austen.

The judges will be looking for Regency-themed planting and colour schemes, such as pale pinks, purples and yellows. They will also be looking for creativity such as Austen-inspired scarecrows, garden sculptures, or outdoor artwork.

Alton in Bloom entry forms were distributed with the spring/summer Altonian newsletter but are also available from the Town Hall on Alton’s Market Square, online at alton.gov.uk, or by e-mail to [email protected].

Entry forms, plus a photograph(s) of your garden should be returned to the Town Hall no later than noon on Friday, July 7.

Anyone unable to provide a photograph can call Alton Town Council on 01420 83986. Judging takes place on Friday, July 14, with the awards ceremony taking place at Alton Assembly Rooms on September 8.

n The deadline for entering the ‘tallest sunflower’ competition is August 31, to give the flowers a chance to reach their optimum height. The judges will photograph and measure the height of the flowers.