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RHS reveals 2025 Britain in Bloom UK finalists

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has today announced the 44 finalists competing in this year’s RHS Britain in Bloom UK Finals, as groups across the nation prepare to win judges over with their greening of the UK’s villages, towns and cities.

The finalists, nominated through regional arms of the competition, will compete to be crowned winner in one of eight categories, and will secure an RHS gold, silver gilt, silver or bronze award. One will then go on to be named RHS Britain in Bloom Overall Winner for 2025.

Judges will assess groups’ efforts against a criteria that has environmental benefit, community engagement and horticultural excellence at its core.

This year there are 13 first-time finalists, including Conwy in Bloom, Uppingham in Bloom and Torquay in Bloom with many showcasing groups’ commitment to sustainable water practices.

Among this year’s finalists are Abergavenny in Bloom who have devised a smart system that draws on sensors fitted across the town centre that measure soil moisture levels and temperature to help conserve water and identify ideal planting conditions. Similarly, Stony Stratford in Bloom have fitted innovatively designed downpipes to polytunnels, enabling them to capture even more rainwater.

Many groups such as Middleton in Bloom and Better Bankside are also managing ‘pocket gardens’ – smaller scale growing spaces distributed across urban areas and including plots of land next to train stations and bus stops, along residential roads and in town centres.

Sarah Galvin, RHS Head of National Community Programmes, said: “Britain in Bloom is more than just a competition; it’s a celebration of the incredible impact that gardening and green spaces can have on our communities and the environment. Congratulations to our 44 finalists who are demonstrating how convening people around gardening can be a powerful tool for tackling some of the most pressing environmental and social challenges we face today.”

There are 17 Britain in Bloom Regions that nominate their highest-performing entries to compete in the RHS run UK Finals. Each of the finalists will be visited by a pair of judges in summer 2025, and winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in the autumn.

If you are inspired to get involved in community gardening in your area find out more at www.rhs.org.uk/community.

ENDS

Notes to editors

For further information or images, contact the RHS Press Office at [email protected] / 0207 821 3080.

RHS Britain in Bloom 2025 finalists and their respective categories:  

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About RHS Britain in Bloom
  • Along with its sister campaign It’s Your Neighbourhood, Britain in Bloom involves around 3,500 community groups and hundreds of thousands of local volunteers who work year-round to keep our neighbourhoods and streets green, clean and thriving.
  • Bloom groups compete in regional and national heats of the competition before being nominated to the RHS Britain in Bloom UK Finals.
  • Bloom was started by the British Tourist Authority as a way to attract visitors to the UK through floral displays. In 2001, the RHS took over as organisers and have developed the campaign to include greater focus on community participation and environmental responsibility.
  • In 2006, the RHS launched a new grass roots level for Bloom – It’s Your Neighbourhood (IYN) – which is aimed at small volunteer groups (such as youth groups, ‘Friends of’ groups, etc.)
  • Since 1964, Bloom has evolved from what many saw as a rural hanging basket competition to a major socio-environmental campaign that is improving villages, towns and cities across the UK
  • Managed by the RHS in partnership with 17 regions and nations – it covers England, Scotland, Wales and Ulster and Channel Islands. It includes both urban and rural communities.
About the RHS

Since our formation in 1804, the RHS has grown into the UK’s leading gardening charity, touching the lives of millions of people. Perhaps the secret to our longevity is that we’ve never stood still. In the last decade alone we’ve taken on the largest hands-on project the RHS has ever tackled by opening the new RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford, Greater Manchester, and invested in the science that underpins all our work by building RHS Hilltop – The Home of Gardening Science.

We have committed to being net positive for nature and people by 2030. We are also committed to being truly inclusive and to reflect all the communities of the UK.

Across our five RHS gardens we welcome more than three million visitors each year to enjoy over 34,000 different cultivated plants. Events such as the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, other national shows, our schools and community work, and partnerships such as Britain in Bloom, all spread the shared joy of gardening to wide-reaching audiences.

Throughout it all we’ve held true to our charitable core – to encourage and improve the science, art and practice of horticulture –to share the love of gardening and the positive benefits it brings.

For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk  

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262

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The RHS is the UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow - nurturing a healthier, happier world, one person and one plant at a time.