THE deadline for entries to this year's EADT wildflower competition is approaching.The competition, which offers prize money of £3,000, is aimed at encouraging action to protect and enhance East Anglia's wildflower populations.

THE deadline for entries to this year's EADT wildflower competition is approaching.

The competition, which offers prize money of £3,000, is aimed at encouraging action to protect and enhance East Anglia's wildflower populations.

Individuals, groups, schools, organisations and companies, have until April 30 to submit their applications.

Judges will then compile a shortlist and carry out site visits prior to the winner or winners being announced in July.

"We are hoping for lots of good quality entries that will make the judging very difficult," said Bernard Tickner, a well-known Suffolk conservationist who sponsors the annual competition.

He donates the money he receives in the form of royalties from the Notcutts nursery firm for the commercial sales of a plant called Euphorbia Redwing, a new variety of euphorbia discovered in his garden at West Stow, near Bury St Edmunds, several years ago.

New criteria have been established for this year's competition with judges anxious to give preference to schemes which have good community support and, therefore, a chance of long-term sustainability.

Preference will also be shown this year to projects which enhance existing populations of wild plants rather than introducing new ones and which do not have access to other funding sources.

Judges are looking for new ideas and initiatives. Schemes which simply ask for funding to continue existing management work are unlikely to be supported.

Sites have to be accessible to the public on either a permanent or temporary basis.

Application forms are available from Debbie Noye, Promotions Manager, EADT, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, tel. 01473 230023.