FINISHING touches are being made to Kendal Town Council's Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom campaign.

RHS judges will be visiting the town next Wednesday morning to cast their eyes over the abundant floral displays that decorate the streets, thoroughfares and parks.

Kendal is competing the Large Town Category alongside Wisbech, Farnham, Ryde, Portishead, Market Harborough, Congleton, Colwyn Bay, Coleraine and Perth.

When assessing Kendal, judges will take into consideration three key criteria: horticultural achievement, community participation and environmental responsibility.

They will have to have been demonstrated across public spaces, parks and communal gardens, as well as natural spaces including conservation areas and wildflower meadows.

Each entry’s final score also takes into account a whole range of complementary factors, from the condition of street furniture to the engagement of young people in Bloom activities.

UK-wide Britain in Bloom groups transform an estimated 3,459 acres, equivalent to 9.9 Hyde Parks or 1,965 football pitches into green havens for all. Bloom volunteers have transformed derelict land into community gardens, greened grey spaces, brightened up streets with floral displays, cleared litter, grown fresh produce, and so much more. As part of their commitment to creating green spaces in their communities Britain in Bloom groups, including the 72 finalists, have planted more than 10 million plants, trees and bulbs over the past year.

Cllr Lynne Oldman, chairman of the Kendal in Bloom Committee, said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming the judges. The start of the bloom year was challenging with Storm Desmond.

"As a result the people of Kendal really pulled together with some fantastic community projects being developed and additional floral displays being created. I am personally very proud of what we have achieved this year.”