Garden competition is launched

Love Plants at Salop Leisure has partnered with Shrewsbury Food Festival to launch a competition that will transform a local outdoor community area. Community groups across Shropshire are invited to enter by submitting their design for a new garden. 

The winner will receive a selection of plants and trees up to the value of £750 for the community project they wish to undertake. This could be for a community space that needs a revamp, a patch of grass in need of some colour, or it could be some raised beds at the edge of a care home, village hall or school. 

Entrants need to submit a photo of the space along with a hand-drawn design of what it could become with the help of Love Plants. The top three designs will be displayed at the Shrewsbury Food Festival on June 29 and 30 where visitors will vote to decide on the winning design.

Beth Heath, of Shropshire Festivals, said, “This is a fantastic opportunity to create a special garden in your community. We are very grateful for Love Plants' generosity in supporting this garden competition and doing something brilliant for one lucky local community. This competition is a legacy project, with a community able to enjoy a new garden area for years to come.”

The Shrewsbury Food Festival is taking place in the Quarry where there will be chef talks and demos, a chef school, kids cookalong area, 200 independent stalls, two music stages, a field to fork area, and a field of free kids activities. Love Plants will be exhibiting in the Home and Gardens area.

Ed Glover​​​​, marketing manager at Salop Leisure, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Shropshire Festivals to transform a community garden in Shropshire.

"Love Plants isn’t a typical garden centre where you’re overrun with power tools and decking – we focus on providing a wide range of quality plants and trees, backed by our extensive knowledge. We can’t wait to transform a garden and create a special place for a Shropshire community to enjoy.”

Details on how to enter can be found at www.shrewsburyfoodfestival.co.uk/love-plants-garden-competition. The deadline for entries is June 14 at 4pm. Entries will be accepted for community spaces within Shropshire, and they must not be a commercial, private or business space. 

Pictured: Beth Heath and Ed Glover