HILLINGDON’S gardeners are being invited to show off their skills as the borough’s popular plant-growing competitions return for 2022. 

Entries for Hillingdon in Bloom and the Autumn Show were launched in April and offer residents the chance to win garden centre gift vouchers for show-casing their growing skills. 

Hillingdon in Bloom is an opportunity for applicants to learn new gardening skills, produce creative displays while keeping fit and active outdoors.

The competition also helps keep the borough looking green and colourful. 

Many of the regular categories are making a return, including, best window box, best residential garden, best balcony display or best hanging basket.  

New this year is a special Best Platinum Jubilee display category. Entries can be red, white and blue to reflect the Union Flag or purple and white to match the official Queen’s Platinum Jubilee emblem.  

Previous best display winner, Lyn Sutherland, says people will enjoy taking part in Hillingdon in Bloom, even if they end up in a battle to keep slugs off their petunias, as she did. 

She said: “It makes you feel good and cheers you up. 

“You always think your garden is not as good as everybody else’s, but it’s really fun because all your neighbours and the people passing by stop and talk to you.”  

The Autumn Show is an opportunity for residents to try growing fruit, vegetables and other fresh produce.

For more information and to apply, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/bloom. The deadline for applications for Hillingdon in Bloom is Friday, July 29. 

For the Autumn Show, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/autumnshow. Deadline is Friday, September 2.