The UK’s leading garden centre retailer, Dobbies Garden Centres, is supporting Sun Gardening’s virtual Rose Festival. Running from 20 to 28 June, the Rose Festival will celebrate the nation’s favourite flower online with growers, gardeners and kids encouraged to get involved.
As part of the festival, the Children’s Prettiest Rose Drawing Competition will be in partnership with Dobbies, encouraging kids to get creative and draw a beautiful rose. The colouring competition is open to children across the UK and split into three age categories: up to age 6, age 7-10 and age 10 and up.
The winners will be chosen by the Sun Gardening team, and editor and television broadcaster, Peter Seabrook. There will be three winners in each category, each winning a £25 Dobbies’ voucher, with the aim of inspiring a young generation of gardeners.
Entrants are asked to upload their rose-themed masterpieces to the Sun Gardening website to be in with the chance of winning, and they can also share their creations on social media with the hashtag #rosefestival20.
Graeme Jenkins, CEO at Dobbies, said: “The virtual Rose Festival is a fantastic idea and a great way to celebrate one of Britain’s best loved flowers. We offer a wide selection of roses in store and online which always prove popular with our customers.
“At Dobbies we’re passionate about getting kids into gardening and the Prettiest Rose Drawing Competition is a brilliant way for children to get creative and learn more about the gardening world.”
To encourage children to get involved, Dobbies will be sharing rose related activities on its Little Seedings at home webpage, a free online resource packed with ideas to inspire and educate children on all things gardening.
As part of the festival, Dobbies’ own Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles, will also be hosting a special rose-themed Facebook Live Q&A. Taking place on Saturday 20 June, 11:00-11:30, Marcus will be talking gardening trends and sharing top tips on how to grow and care for roses, as well as answering questions from the public.
Peter Seabrook, Editor at Sun Gardening, said: “2020 marks the third year of the Rose Festival and we’re delighted to have the support from Dobbies. Our Sun Gardening column has backed many initiatives which encourage young people to grow plants and open their eyes to the natural beauty in gardens, parks and the countryside, and we can’t wait to see the entries for the Prettiest Rose Drawing Competition.”
Full competition details and entry criteria for the Children’s Prettiest Rose Competition can be found on the Sun Gardening website: www.sungardening.co.uk/News:Prettiest-Rose-Competition-2020