Belfast City Council has officially opened the Belfast in Bloom competition for entries from local schools, business/commercial premises, community groups and residents in the city.

The previous year's champions included a diverse range of establishments such as Errigle Inn, Granny Annies, Ten Square Hotel, SPAR Malone Road, Knockbreda Community Wildlife Garden, Restore Glandore ATC Community Group and Belvoir Area Residents Group (BARG).

Additionally, accolades were awarded to educational institutions including Dundela Infants' School in east Belfast, Fane Street Primary School in south Belfast and St. John the Baptist Primary School in the west of the city.

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This year, residents can enter for 'Best Hanging Basket', 'Best Window Box' and 'Best Front Garden'. Community groups/organisations can enter for 'Best Community Street', 'Best Community Group' and 'Best Community Garden'.

Businesses can enter the commercial category for 'Best Hotel', 'Best Public House', 'Best Restaurant', 'Best Commercial Street' and 'Best Commercial Premises'. Local schools can enter for 'Best Kept School Garden' in the north, south, east and west of the city. There are also awards for 'Best Individual Allotment' and 'Best Allotment Site' in Belfast.

Participation in the competition is open to all at no cost. The deadline for submissions in the school awards category is Friday 21 June. For all other categories, the closing date is Friday 26 July. Judging will occur during the month of August.