EXAMPLES of horticultural achievement and community participation are just two of the areas that judges from South and South East in Bloom have been assessing in Farnham this week.

Farnham in Bloom has once again entered two categories in the region’s largest annual horticultural campaign. The judges scored Farnham’s entry into the Large Town category on Tuesday and the Town Centre category on Wednesday, July 12.

To see the best of what Farnham in Bloom has to offer, the judges were taken on a tour of the communities around Farnham that have taken part in this year’s campaign.

As part of the Large Town judging, the judges’ tour included a visit to The Bourne and Middle Bourne community wildlife garden, the Bourne Beautification Project and Bishop’s Meadow.

One of the highlights of the town centre judges’ visit was a performance by young people from The Dance Movement at Gostrey Meadow. The theme for this year’s dance extravaganza was the environment and the effects of urbanisation.

Through specially created dances, the young people explored the negative effect humans are having on the environment and the change people can make through simple actions.

The dance, which took place on Wednesday, was divided into three sections and will be performed in three different locations at Gostrey Meadow. Around 90 young people from 16 local schools took part.

Stephen Hill, the town council’s lead member for Farnham in Bloom, said: “The judges were shown some of Farnham’s most beautiful areas and met members of the Farnham in Bloom community. The carefully planned judging route is designed to show off Farnham’s best floral assets.

He noted that The Dance Movement’s performance, entitled Make that Change, is a thought-provoking and topical piece aiming to communicate the effects mankind is having on the environment and how cars are polluting towns.