Tuesday August 12th will be the biggest day in a decade for Nottingham in Bloom. That’s when judges from the Royal Horticultural Society will assess how the city has fared in the Britain in Bloom ‘Champion of Champions’ competition.

This is the first time the city has been invited to enter the ‘Champions’ category, which is open only to those communities considered by RHS judges to be the greenest and cleanest of all. Community groups, businesses and individual volunteers across the city are preparing to meet judges David Jones and Susan Smith and show them some of the city’s top green sites.

The judges will take into account activities throughout the year, and during their four-hour tour will assess nature conservation, sustainability, permanent planting and cleanliness as well as the floral displays for which the city is renowned.

The Chair of the Nottingham in Bloom Working Group, Councillor Malcolm Wood, said:

"The city has done exceptionally well over the years, winning the title of Britain in Bloom Best Large City four times. This will be our biggest day since competing in the European competition, Entente Florale, in 1998, when we were proud to win a gold medal.

"Not only does Nottingham in Bloom help to transform the city, it’s an excellent catalyst for community cohesion. I’m just one of the thousands of people who are proud to be involved."

The initiative is led by the City Council and involves thousands of people who are busy brightening up their own neighbourhoods. Last year the City won the national Britain in Bloom Community Award in recognition of all the work done by local people to make the city cleaner and greener, and this year even more people have got involved.

The city is also competing in the East Midlands in Bloom Champion of Champions competition and will be judged on Wednesday July 16th.

More information is available on www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/bloom