The UK’s leading community and school gardening campaign, Cultivation Street, is once again celebrating the amazing efforts of people across the UK who create green spaces.
The competition is sponsored by Miracle Gro who have their own sponsor category ‘Gro Your Best’, where 30 lucky community or school gardens are randomly selected to receive 3 free bags of Miracle Gro Peat Free All-Purpose Compost.
This year saw a record number of registrations for the category and the 30 were picked by an automated selection process.
The aim of the category is for the gardens to use the compost to plant up a creative and eye-catching display to wow the judges.
The sale of peat-based compost is being banned from 2024 with the purpose of restoring peatlands and increasing woodlands to boost biodiversity. But the government’s move to peat-free and restoring these areas will benefit the environment. Peatland stores large amounts of carbon, decreases the emission of greenhouse gases, and as they hold large quantities of water, they are a great natural flood defence.
The horticultural industry has already been taking steps to phase out peat from products. It’s great to see and work with brands such as Miracle-Gro and Levington, who are actively creating peat-free products for British gardens to help their gardens flourish. The aim is to demonstrate that peat-free alternatives perform just as well as peat products, so we can grow without eroding peatland.
The Cultivation Street community engages with a wide variety of individuals across the UK who believe in creating environments that are rich and diverse and support their own local eco-systems. By switching to a peat-free compost, this further supports an enviro-centric approach to gardening in Britain.
What can you win?
School Gardens
Rewarding school gardens that enrich the educational environment for children. 1st prize - £1000 and a Miracle Gro hamper; 2nd prize - £500 and a Miracle Gro hamper; 3rd prize - £250 and a Miracle Gro hamper; Two highly commended prizes of Miracle Gro hampers.
Community Gardens
Is for gardening projects bursting with community spirit, with a 1st prize - £1,000 and a Miracle Gro hamper; 2nd prize - £500 and a Miracle Gro hamper; 3rd prize - £250 and a Miracle Gro hamper; Two highly commended prizes of Miracle Gro hampers
Gardens for Better Health
Rewarding gardens that have a positive impact on the mental or physical health of the local community. 1st prize - £1,000 and a Miracle Gro hamper; 2nd prize - £500 and a Miracle Gro hamper; 3rd prize - £250 and a Miracle Gro hamper; Two highly commended prizes of Miracle Gro hampers.
Gro’ your Best
For the most creative display using Miracle-Gro’s free bags of compost. Winner of Judge’s Choice – Miracle-Gro Premium Hamper; Public Vote - £200.
Ambassador of the Year
For the Garden Centre Ambassadors who have gone above and beyond for their local community and school groups with cash prizes. 1st prize - £1000; 2nd prize - £500; 3rd prize - £250. And 8 x runners up - £100 each.
About Cultivation Street
Celebrating its ninth year, Cultivation Street, sponsored by Miracle Gro®, is Britain’s largest national community gardening campaign. The campaign highlights the inspiring efforts of school and community gardens across the nation, coming together to share the love for gardening and its many benefits. Cultivation Street offers free and constant support for new and established community and school gardens, via social media channels and its website. The website features advice on children’s gardening, gardening for better health, as well as offering continuous gardening tips and advice blogs with ideas on growing sowing and planting. There’s also PR and fundraising advice, children’s educational and recreational activities, step by step guides on how to improve and nurture gardens, monthly newsletters, competitions, a designated contact to communicate with and guide the community and school gardens and features in national newspapers and magazines. The online postcode finder shows over 300 registered garden centres where you can find your local Garden Centre Ambassador who is on hand to help.
Twitter - @cultivationst
Instagram - @cultivationstreet
Facebook - /CultivationStreet
Website – www.cultivationstreet.com