RICHMONDSHIRE will be blooming lovely once again this summer as gardeners get ready for an annual competition.

Throughout June, July and August, judges will make unannounced visits to all Richmondshire District Council-owned homes to find the best gardens, window boxes, tubs, baskets, borders and vegetable patches.

There will be first, second and third prizes for gardens in each of the council’s five partnership areas of the Upper Dales, Catterick Garrison, Lower Wensleydale, A66 and Central.

“As a council we feel it is important to recognise the efforts that our tenants make to brighten up their streets and estates by creating and maintaining lovely gardens,” said Councillor Peter Wood.

“It doesn’t matter how large or small the garden is – or if it is just a window box garden - judging will reflect how the entrant has made use of the area they have.

“We had such a lovely summer last year which culminated with some really spectacular gardens across the district and I am sure we will continue to see the standard ever increasing as it has in previous years.”