1. Preparing for your entry
South West in Bloom Spring Seminar
South West

2. Start early The longer you leave it the harder it gets Plan your route
Involve partners
Have aims and objectives
Ask advice
Contact other groups in your area
Don’t be afraid to be innovative
Think differently if it makes you smile use it!

3. The Voice of Experience
Look at past judges comments
Perhaps be as bold as to invite a guest from another entry to look round
Go out of the area and return as a visitor
Look at the criteria and have a checklist
Do the route in reverse order (its surprising what you may see)
Look at the bigger picture judging is arriving, enjoy the journey

4. It’s your day!
Enjoy the experience, this is your time to show off your community!
Your judges will be very aware of how much work has gone into this one day and know how important this is to you
Treat them as critical friends or mentors
Smile and relax

5. Before you start
Support, get the press to work for you, make use of Social Media, form networks to share experience and give/gain information
Sponsorship or benefit in kind, think about what you need and how you might get it.
Business’s like to show support for successful groups
Talk to other community groups see what they may offer

6. Planning your Judges’ visit
Review the marking sheet and ensure that all aspects of the judging criteria are covered reference the Self assessment exercise
Plan the route and walk it through at the time that your judges will be visiting – several times!
Consider which team members you will have at each stop on the tour, are they the right person? Can they say the right things

7. Planning your Judges’ visit cont..
Be aware of your compromised areas, if you need to drive past them have an explanation in mind
Try to avoid repetition – one example is often enough
Schools – do not underestimate this important resource, if you can’t get children involved on the day make sure you demonstrate their involvement in other ways, remember kids are unpredictable brief them but don’t scare them

8. Judging day Have a runner in front Check the route
Make sure you have wet weather contingency
Use an appropriate vehicle
Have the press there

9. Your Judges Get to know your Judges
Expect them to be friendly and approachable
Remember that they are as passionate about Bloom as you are
They are normal people! Well almost !

10. The big day!
Your judges will take lots of photographs, this is perfectly normal – don’t worry!
They will have read all about you but will still have lots of questions!
Have a timekeeper, you know your route will be perfectly planned but your judges will make it that little more challenging to keep to time on the day itself!

11. Reflect and celebrate!!!!!! The big day cont….
Once your judges have left and are safely on their way to their next destination………
Reflect and celebrate!!!!!!

12. After judging Have a de brief Celebrate and invite everyone involved
Start planning for next year !
Go on holiday, (Yorkshire is lovely in Autumn)

13. Any Questions?