The annual horticultural competition has been moved online this year due to the current public health situation.

Gardening is known to have a positive impact on mental health, and this year’s competition, organised by Islington Council and Islington Gardeners, offers a great opportunity for residents to benefit from the therapeutic pastime at this challenging time.

All residents – including expert gardeners and budding enthusiasts – are able to take part by sprucing up their gardens, creating a colourful window display, or by growing gorgeous house plants.

The competition launched on Saturday (16 May), and will run until Sunday, 5 July, with the winners being announced in September.

Cllr Rowena Champion, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Islington in Bloom is always a fantastic celebration of community, which is more important than ever at this challenging time.

“Gardening is a very relaxing activity and we hope this competition will encourage residents, both experts and novices alike, to embrace this fun, joyful hobby as they spend more time than usual at home.”

This year’s categories include:

• Best front garden
• Best back garden
• Best house plant
• Best window box
• Best container garden
• Best children’s planting
• Best tree pit
• Best children’s garden drawing or model

Entries will be judged remotely this year, with entrants sending one or two photographs, totalling no more than 10mb, of their colourful creations to judges via [email protected], specifying what category they are entering along with some personal details.

In order to adapt to the Covid-19 situation, some gardening centres have now moved online and are delivering their products. Residents are also invited to get creative with their entries, using household items like coffee mugs and recycled materials as plant holders, for example.

You can get inspiration via the @IslingtonInBloom Instagram page, which will also show gardening tips, fun facts and some of this year’s entries.

For more information on entering visit www.islington.gov.uk/inbloom, or email [email protected].