Bury St Edmunds floral campaign needs more volunteer judges for garden event

A floral campaign in Bury St Edmunds is on the lookout for more judges to help continue the success of its front garden event.

Bury in Bloom needs 20 more volunteers to sign up to help judge the 20,000 gardens in the town which now includes Lark Grange on the Moreton Hall and Marham Park.

Lynne Wright, organiser of the certificates, said: “You don’t have to be a horticulturalist, you just have to be someone who’s happy to work as a team, be able to walk and be available for training in June.

“If the volunteer has an interest in gardens that’s a bonus but they don’t need be a specialist in gardens.”

Judging will take place in July and gardens are marked on a point system with points being given to gardens which have, for example, made use of wildlife-friendly plants and reduced use of plastic.

Judges will need to be available a minimum of four hours during the nine-day judging window.

To those thinking about applying Lynne said: “The residents of Bury St Edmunds get great satisfaction from this. The event in unique in the country and residents get so much out of it – it’s very popular.

“There’s a nice team spirit among the judges too.”

Full training will be given on June 26 at 10.30am at Moreton Hall Community Centre. Throughout the event judges will be paired with more experienced judges.

Anyone who would like to apply to be a judge should email Lynne on: certificates@buryinbloom.org.uk