Good luck to Northern Ireland's Britain in Bloom finalists

Good luck to Northern Ireland's Britain in Bloom finalists as they bite their nails to the quick awaiting the verdict of the judges on 16th October.

Britain in Bloom is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with the theme 'Going for Gold' - and there are two Irish entries selected by Ulster in Bloom to take on 72 other contestants from all over the UK. The coastal town of Carrickfergus, north-east of Belfast, is taking on the likes of Perth, Truro, Durham and Wisbech in the Large Town category, while neighbouring Whitehead is competing for honours in the Small Town group.

Carrickfergus last year won five Ulster in Bloom awards, the most ever in any year since the competition began, while Whitehead won two of this year's awards including a prize for the lovingly-tended displays on the town's railway station.

As well as hundreds of hanging baskets, bedding displays, shrub beds and trees the two towns have encouraged residents to plant hundreds of sunflowers and launched campaigns to promote biodiversity, from growing vegetables in schools to a tree week and 'Blooming Wild', encouraging gardeners to turn their back yards into wildlife sanctuaries.

For more information, including a list of the winners after the awards ceremony, visit www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom.