Keen gardeners across County Durham are being invited to take part in a photography competition to share how outside spaces have helped them through the coronavirus pandemic.
Durham County Council’s civic pride team is calling on residents to show off the green spaces and floral displays they’ve been nurturing during lockdown in its Garden Treasures contest.
Amateur horticulturists can share images of their garden, yard, window box or balcony with other residents across the county, for a chance to win a great prize. Anyone over the age of 18 and who lives in the county can submit an entry, and younger gardeners can ask a parent or guardian to make a nomination on their behalf.
There are five categories to choose from and entries can be made in more than one category, with a maximum of four images allowed per person:
• Garden, either front or back
• Yard area
• Floral containers, including baskets, tubs and troughs
• Children’s garden area
• Most improved (please send before and after photographs)
All entries received in the above categories will be posted on Instagram and a public vote will then decide the winner of a People’s Choice award.
Cllr Brian Stephens, Durham County Council Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “Over the past weeks we have all been staying at home, and under these very difficult circumstances people have been looking for ways to use their time productively. Many people have indulged in a new or existing love of gardening and have been working to improving their outdoor spaces, whilst spending uplifting time outside with their families.
“Our Garden Treasures competition is a chance for residents to share the fantastic spaces they have created whilst social distancing and to celebrate how gardening is helping people cope during this challenging time.”
To enter, recent photographs, no larger than 4MB and in JPG format, should be emailed to civicpride@durham.gov.uk along with contact details and a brief description of what the garden or planted area means to entrants at this time.
Submissions should not be framed or contain watermarks and are restricted to four pictures per entry. Photographs with people in them will not be accepted.
Suitable entries will be uploaded to the Civic Pride Instagram page www.instagram.com/civicpridedurham/#GardenTreasures where they can be viewed and shared.
One winner will be selected from each category and will receive a £30 National Garden Voucher.
Entries opened on Wednesday 27 May and will close on Monday 17 August. The People’s Choice award will be open to voting from Tuesday 18 August until midnight on Thursday 20 August.
Winners will be notified by telephone or email by Friday 28 August.
