GARDEN lovers in Devizes have the chance to show off their flowers this summer when In Bloom judges do their rounds.

Devizes and Roundway In Bloom chairman Zena Robson urged people to get their entries in by June 23.

She said: The competition is open to all-comers with all sorts of gardens. If you don’t have a garden, then grow things in pots or baskets and you can still enter. For residents, there are 4 categories: front garden, rear garden, single container and individual hanging basket and you can enter any or all of them."

Judging will take place throughout July but Ms Robson urged people not to think they have to be experts. She said: "Please don’t be shy or think your garden isn’t good enough – we are not the Chelsea Flower Show – we just want people who love their gardens to be proud of them.

"Businesses are also judged and divided into different categories but they do not need to enter as we traipse around the town looking at everything."

The town is also entering the RHS South West In Bloom competition. Mrs Robson said: "We are entering once more in spite of last year’s disappointment of receiving a silver-gilt rather than another gold.

"It may be because of it that we rallied ourselves and decided to show them what we can do. The judging date will be July 13th as we play host to two SouthWest judges and show them around our town.

"Last year we were let down by weeds and litter so this year we have been enlisting the help of businesses in the town and are creating a Floral Trail Map. This will showcase those businesses that go the extra mile by having lovely floral displays and clean pavements outside their premises, and have been able to join in our theme of Brazil for their window display."

The maps will be free and available from the town hall, library, Devizes Books and other outlets. The trail will last through the months of July and August.

The In Bloom group has also created a clean up squad called CURDS (Clean Up Roundway and Devizes Squad) which started work in March tackling litter and doing planting.

Ms Robson said: "So far have tackled mountains of litter such as bottles, discarded coffee cups, crisp packets, shoes and toothbrushes. We stripped the turf off one of the mini-roundabouts at the bottom of Windsor Drive and have sown wildflower seed, donated by Paul Jupp of Meadow In My Garden, which is just starting to germinate. We have also tackled The Wharf by weeding wherever we could and taking out old, dead shrubs.

"We will be out the day before and the morning of the SouthWest In Bloom judging, making sure that this year we get the Gold that we deserve."

The group is looking for more volunteers. Information on the CURDS Facebook page. To get an entry form to enter the gardening competition go to the town hall.