IT'S time for the people of Bury St Edmunds to pull on their gardening gloves and get ready for this year's Green Fingers competition as part of Bury in Bloom.

IT'S time for the people of Bury St Edmunds to pull on their gardening gloves and get ready for this year's Green Fingers competition as part of Bury in Bloom.

There are seven categories to enter, detailed on the form printed on this page.

Green Fingers is being run in association with the East Anglian Daily Times and Bury St Edmunds Mercury.

West Suffolk Editor Mark Crossley said: “Green Fingers is a vital part of Bury in Bloom, which is itself responsible for so much positive publicity for the town.

“The town's successes in the Anglia in Bloom and Britain in Bloom competitions depend on everyone pulling together and doing their bit to make us one of the top floral towns in the country.

“I hope all those keen - and not so keen - gardeners out there will enter this year's Green Fingers competition and do their bit for Bury.”

Anyone who lives in Bury St Edmunds can enter the competition. And you don't have to be an expert gardener to take part as the judges, all experienced local amateur gardeners, are looking for enthusiasm as much as high standards.

After your entry has been judged you will receive individual written feedback on what is best about it, and hints and tips for improvement.

Everyone who enters receives either a Bronze, Silver or Gold certificate at the Awards Ceremony in September, to which all competitors will be invited. Entries are judged individually to assess their degree of excellence for each award.

There are a number of ways to enter, and gardeners, businesses and other organisations or groups of friends and neighbours can all take part.

Here is what you need to do:

Look at the categories on the competition form and decide which you are going to enter. Tick your choice of category box(es) and/or your features box(es) as appropriate.

If the judges need to gain access to assess your garden, it is important that you have indicated the need to contact you and that you have included a phone number to arrange a visiting time.

If the garden or feature can be readily seen the judges will not contact you but will always indicate when they have completed their visit.

Judging will take place between July 20 and 31 inclusive.

Entries should be returned to the address on the form as soon as possible, but no later than June 22.

Entry forms will be printed in Thursday's Bury St Edmunds Mercury and copies will be available at selected venues in town.