Schoolchildren are being encouraged to develop their green fingers during this year’s Swansea in Bloom competition.
Swansea in Bloom is now in its 17th year and encourages residents, businesses and schools to make the city a more attractive place to live, work and visit.
It’s free to enter and everyone who submits their form will be sent a starter pack full of top tips and ideas to help them on their way.
The schools competition aims to encourage primary schools to develop their own gardens and enhance their learning spaces through floral displays
Some of the skills schoolchildren could learn from taking part in Swansea in Bloom include teamworking, responsibility for caring for plant life and an understanding of basic botany.
Activity in the school garden is also a valuable form of exercise that gives participants a great deal of satisfaction from achieving goals.
Adam Mason, Swansea Council Community Parks Officer, said: “Schools are an extremely important part of Swansea in Bloom because they tend to be excellent places to promote an awareness of the contribution that trees, plants and flowers make towards the enhancement of the environment.
“Entering the competition means children are given the opportunity to learn in pleasant surroundings that will encourage them to continue to care for the environment in years to come.
“Swansea in Bloom is also a lot of fun for schoolchildren because they get to spend time outdoors, dig in the soil and watch plants grow.”
Mayals Primary School will be entering the competition.
Schools can enter into one of three age group categories including Best Nursery School, Best Infant School and Best Junior School.
Any schools interested in taking part are asked to contact Adam on 01792 635124 or email [email protected] and ensure their entries are submitted by May 21.
The main Swansea in Bloom competition runs from May until July 2 with categories including best front garden, best new entrant and best public house.
Have a look at www.breatheswansea.com for a full list of categories or to download an application form. Entry forms are also available from the Civic Centre and culture and tourism venues.
All Swansea in Bloom entries received before Friday June 4 will be entered into a prize draw with prizes including an overnight stay and meal for two in the 5-star Morgans Hotel, four tickets to see a repertory show at Swansea Grand Theatre and four tickets to Outdoor Shakespeare.
Swansea Council would like to thank this year’s sponsors of Swansea in Bloom: Swansea Sound, Swansea Grand Theatre, Morgans Hotel, The South Wales Evening Post, Fforestmill Garden Centre, the Quadrant Shopping Centre, the White House Hotel and Bizzie Lizzies Bistro.
