To prove that the organisers of York in Bloom can practise what they preach, John Coombes has agreed to open up his own garden to the discerning eyes of York gardeners.

Mr Coombes, outdoor events and allotments officer for the City of York Council, always finds time to work on his garden despite the high demands of his job - which includes co-ordinating York in Bloom.

John's garden, in Church Road, Stamford Bridge, stretches over half an acre, with half of that laid out with shrubs and perennials. The top half is an old orchard.

He said: "It has been developed for about 15 years since the kids grew up.

"The bottom part was largely lawn with some beds down the side and was used as a cricket and football pitch because my sons were very keen on sport.

"It has changed a lot since then."

He hopes that by putting his own garden on display he will encourage anyone who might be a bit shy of entering theirs to go ahead.

He said: "People are a bit hesitant about entering their garden because they don't think it is good enough.

"The thing is that it doesn't matter, it is more about sharing your hobby with somebody, and maybe getting a bit of advice.

"It must be disappointing for people to enter and not get anywhere but in the end if you don't enter you have got no chance at all."

If you would like to enter, please fill in the entry coupon in the paper version of the Evening Press and send it to John Coombes, Leisure Services, City of York Council, 18 Back Swinegate, York, YO1 8ZD. The closing date for entries is Monday, June 29.

Judging takes place during the two weeks commencing July 6 and winners will be announced at the end of July.

The categories are as follows:

A) Small/Medium (single or double fronted) business, shops, restaurants etc in the Inner City area. (*).

B) Small/Medium (single or double-fronted) businesses in Outer City areas.

C) Large Businesses, shops, offices, large hotels etc in the Inner City area.

D) Large Businesses in Outer City areas, including large hotels/pubs with gardens.

E) Small/Medium industrial premises in Greater York.

F) Large Industrial Premises in Greater York.

G) Inner City pub (*).

H) Outer City pub (*).

I) Guest House/Small Hotel, Inner City (*).

J) Guest House/Small Hotel, Outer City (*).

K) Best Public Building in Greater York (hospital, library etc).

L) School Garden/Floral Display.

M) Street/Shopping Centre.

N) Private Garden (front/rear/both) in Greater York (beyond the Outer Ring road).

P) Small Floral Display at a private dwelling, eg backyard, roof garden, window boxes, tubs, hanging baskets etc.

Q) Vegetable Garden or Allotment Plot. (*).

*Inner City covers the area within and including both sides of the Inner Ring-Road, Outer York is the area between the Inner and Outer Ring Roads, Greater York is the new York Local Government area.

SPECIAL AWARDS:

A special award for the Garden of the Year will be made to an entrant from categories N, O and P at the discretion of the judges.

The best overall Pensioner's Garden will be selected from categories N, O, P and Q.

Also in the private gardens section prizes will be awarded for the Most Improved Garden and the Best New Entrant.

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