Harrogate in Bloom Competitions

Harrogate in Bloom values the contribution made by all floral features in the town. Throughout the year we run a number of competitions to recognise endeavour and to encourage more involvement.

All entrants are judged against standards set by the RHS. The 2024 results were announced at the “Harrogate in Bloom” Awards evening on 19th September at The West Park Hotel and trophy winners are shown below.

Children's Art Competition 2024

The first competition of the year is always for children. The theme of our 2024 competition was 'Peace' - something we all want for every generation.

Children between the ages of seven and eleven years were challenged to design a flower bed on this theme, which will be planted in 2025, on the circular bed near the main entrance of the Valley Gardens.

Children from Ashville Prep, Brackenfield, Coppice Valley, Oatlands Junior, Richard Taylor, Rossett Acre, St Peter’s and Willow Tree Schools entered the competition and the winning design was by Tabitha Dalglish, aged 7, from St Peter's School.

Tabitha suggested Spring flowers for her design, but as summer bedding plants will be needed, the gardeners will choose summer plants, but of similar colours to those suggested by Tabitha.

Harrogate in Bloom Awards 2024

The categories for the Harrogate in Bloom Awards 2024 were:

Hotels and Guest Houses
Pubs and Restaurants
Communal grounds
Residential Community

Points were awarded for:

First Impression/ overall design
Planting appropriate in colour/scale with summer interest
Containers appropriate size and style
Paving, paths, fabric well maintained/ signage in good order
Plants in good condition/disease free/dead headed
Noticeable environmental features and/or residents involvement

Floral Shop Window Competition 2024 in partnership with Harrogate Business Improvement District

The Harrogate BID team, working in partnership with Harrogate in Bloom, again held a Floral Shop Window Competition, encouraging local businesses to celebrate our town’s floral heritage. The competition coincided with the BID's Floral Summer of Celebration.

Judges awarded points on key aspects including first impressions and ‘wow factor’, planting, size and style of containers, maintenance of paving, paths and signage, condition of the plants and noticeable environmentally friendly features.

The winner was Piglet in Bed on James Street.

School Garden Award 2024

Harrogate in Bloom’s School Garden Award is for all schools - both Primary/Junior Schools and Secondary/Senior Schools.

The trophy is for the best School Garden.

The judges were looking for:
• A good first impression
• Are you making a difference to your school environment?
• Do you work hard to keep it looking beautiful for

everyone visiting your school to enjoy?
• Does your garden encourage wildlife?
• Are the pupils directly involved in creating and maintaining

the garden?

Oatlands Infant School, Oatlands Junior School and St Aidan's CE Secondary School entered this year's competition. The winner was Oatlands Junior School.

2024 Competition winners

Children's Art Competition

School Gardens Award

Shop Window Competition

Hotels & Guesthouses

Communal Grounds

Pubs and Restaurants

Residential Communities

Best Allotment site

Discretionary Award

Best Allotment Plot

Discretionary Award

Christine Dean Cup

Hammond Mann Trophy

McCrindle Trophy

Crowther Trophy

Harrogate in Bloom Shield

Parks Dept. Rose Shield

Bettys Teapot

Edgar Scholey Shield

Harrogate Chamber of Trade & Commerce Trophy Harrogate Borough Council Trophy President’s Award Mayor’s Trophy

Tabitha Dalglish

Oatlands Junior School

Piglet in Bed

The Yorkshire Hotel

Low Harrogate Bowling Club

The Fat Badger

Swan Court

Pine Street Allotments

Rossett Nature Reserve

Peter Walker

Oatlands Junior School

Liz Bailey

For a full list of award winners click on the pdf.