JUDGING for this year's Petersfield In Bloom competition takes place next month. Entries for the annual floral extravaganza have been filing in since the beginning of May – and organisers hope many more will blossom before the June 27 closing date. Completed entry forms can be handed in at Petersfield Town Hall in Heath Road and at the tourist information centre in Petersfield library in The Square. The judging takes place on Thursday, July 10. The competition offers 14 classes, with two categories – the Environmental Award and the Street or Part of Street Award – are open to everyone in Petersfield and Sheet. Schools and youth garden projects have their own class, as do residential homes, nursing homes, and sheltered housing. Public service buildings and areas accessible to the public, such as churches and public halls, also have separate categories. And there are two classes specifically aimed at private properties – Front Garden on a Residential Property and Basket or Container on a Residential Property. Commercial premises have six classes – Retail Frontage, Basket or Container on a Commercial Property, Public House, Restaurant, Café and Guest House, Bank, Building Society and Estate Agent, and National Multiples. In Bloom has come a long way since 1988 when it was part of the 'Pride in Petersfield' drive to improve the look of the town. In Bloom's first effort was to persuade business premises to have hanging baskets. The competition followed, starting with one class and one prize – the Picketts and Pursers' Rose Bowl. Petersfield has also competed in the Southern England in Bloom competition, winning its class in 1992, 2000, and 2002. A Petersfield In Bloom spokesman said: "Residents may well remember the displays in the Queen's golden jubilee year (2002) including the splendid ERII on the College Street crossing bed and the magnificent golden crown on the purple cushion at the Bell Hill roundabout." Television and radio gardening personality Pippa Greenwood will hand out the prizes to the green- fingered winners at the annual awards ceremony at the aptly-named Rose Room of the Petersfield Festival Hall, on Tuesday, September 9. Prizess will include the Committee Award – or the Turner Prize – given by Jenny Turner to recognise "special effort" during the competition. Last year's Turner Prize was won by the Paul Martin Design Company for its long-term support of the Petersfield In Bloom competition.