Mid and East Antrim in Bloom Community Competitions are officially open!
Wednesday 14 May 2025
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has officially launched the Mid and East Antrim in Bloom Community Competitions 2025, and is encouraging green fingered citizens to help make the Borough beautiful and improve biodiversity.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman William McCaughey said, “Mid and East Antrim has won numerous horticultural awards thanks in part to our Mid and East Antrim in Bloom campaign which encourages everyone who lives in the Borough to think about their local environment and how flowers, plants, trees and gardens can enhance it for people and wildlife.
“This year, we are focusing on increasing biodiversity in your green spaces by planting pollinator and wildlife friendly plants, mowing less and letting some areas grow wild.
“Why not create your own little wildlife pond? Look out for our category ‘Gardening for Wildlife Award’!”
As well as environmental benefits, gardening has huge health and wellbeing benefits.
Over the last few years, many of us have rediscovered the importance of connecting with nature for our mental and physical wellbeing resulting in millions more people rediscovering the uplifting power of plants and gardening.
Alderman McCaughey concluded, “Our Mid and East Antrim in Bloom Community Competitions are a great chance for residents to be recognised and rewarded for their gardening skills and for helping to make our Borough a greener and more colourful place.“
Applications are welcome from all residents of the Borough and entry is free of charge.
There are twelve community competitions in total with great prizes for winners and runners up in each.
General categories include:
- Best Kept Front Garden
- Best Kept Front Container Garden
- Best Kept Community Planting Scheme
- Best Kept Allotment Garden
- Best Kept Commercial Premises
- Gardening for Wildlife Award
- Volunteer of the Year, and
- Outstanding Contribution to In Bloom
There are also four competitions specifically for our young residents:
- Young Volunteer of the Year
- Blooming Creative
- Best School Gardening Project, and
- Tallest Sunflower Competition.
Competition categories and details are available on our MEA In Bloom section.