AS LEDBURY in Bloom goes for its tenth consecutive Royal Horticultural Society gold award, organisers are planning to greet the judges with a scruffy-looking bunch of silent individuals.

The strategy worked last year, when a scarecrow-themed presentation allowed Ledbury to add to its gold medal glory, and this year the Ledbury in Bloom team are once again urging local youngsters to get involved by making scarecrows for the big day.

Local people are also being asked to give up a few hours of their time to help make Ledbury look spick and span on judging day, next month.

Ledbury in Bloom spokesman, Martyn Treasure said: "It was a lot of fun last year and we are hoping that more people will enter the scarecrow competition this year.

"The town will be judged by the Heart of England in Bloom judges on Monday July 18, in the afternoon. It would be wonderful if the whole town could support us by simply sweeping and weeding the outside of their homes and businesses so that Ledbury sparkles on that afternoon."

Last year, the scarecrow display in the Walled Garden was a big hit with the judges.

?The rules for this year's scarecrow competition as as follows.

The scarecrow must be made from scratch and must be able to withstand all weather conditions. Each scarecrow must be a maximum height of 1.8m. Only one scarecrow is allowed per entrant, although the scarecrow can be made by a group.

Each scarecrow must contain "an element of plant material", and props and accessories may be used "to enhance your scarecrow".

Each scarecrow must have a personality and a name and description, clearly visible on the scarecrow.

There will be two categories: one for children aged under 11 and the other for young people aged from 11 to 16.

Each winning entry will receive a prize of £50, and there will be runners up prizes of £20, in both categories.

The entries will be judged on Saturday, July 2, at 10am, and entries should be brought to the courtyard of the Masters House.

Further details on,

ledburyinbloom@wordpress.com