Beautiful blooms will spring into life across the town centre as it enters the Thames & Chiltern in Bloom competition for the first time this year.

Organisers are appealing for gardeners to pick up their forks and trowels and help brighten up the town ahead of the judge’s visit in July.

Wokingham must come up with an entry inspired by the theme ‘branching out’ in the large town category of the annual event, which is the regional competition of Britain in Bloom.

Jan Nowecki, town council clerk, said: “Thames & Chiltern in Bloom is not just about planting, it is broader than that. It is about sustainability and how, as a community, we work together.”

To help smarten up the town centre, contractor Windowflowers Ltd, which provides the town’s hanging baskets, is offering baskets fully planted, watered and maintained to businesses in the area for £50.

Anyone taking up the offer will just need to pay for a bracket, and Wokingham Town Council is offering to pay for the first 50 brackets ordered. The town’s entry is supported by Wokingham Horticultural Association, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

Mrs Nowecki said: “We have some ideas about what we can do.

“There are some unattended areas, so we will need to have negotiations with the borough council but Taylor Wimpey at The Pavilions are interested in getting involved as they did for the Diamond Jubilee.”

Paul Smith, the town council’s amenities officer, said: “We are trying to do new things but we recognise that to do everything we could do is a long, ongoing process.”

To contact the council call (0118) 978 3185 or visit www.wokingham-tc.gov.uk.

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