Green-fingered residents and business people are busy preparing for this year's Tenby in Bloom.

Taking place between July 7 and 14, the organisers are hoping that everyone will pull out all the stops to ensure the town will be in full bloom for the 31st annual floral contest.

PRETTY AS A PICTURE

Anyone who knows Tenby will have discovered that those who have visited the town once tend to return time after time. Perhaps this is because of its picturesque setting in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park; its golden beaches and its sense of history.

Famous artist Augustus John, who was born in Tenby, said: "You may travel the world over, but never find anything more beautiful, it is so restful, so colourful and so unspoilt."

The American writer Paul Therous, found the same when he wrote: "It was odd that a place so pretty should be so restful - but Tenby is more than pretty. It is so picturesque it looks like a watercolour itself."

This impression of Tenby owes much to the fact that the mediaeval town walls and ancient narrow streets are adorned with brightly coloured floral displays in hanging baskets and gardens, both public and private. It is something that can be enjoyed by everyone, residents and visitors alike.

HIGH CLASS

Every year, the committee responsible for organising Tenby in Bloom encourage us to keep up the good work.

Tenby has won its class in Wales in Bloom for the last 12 consecutive years and 22 times in total and hopes are high that the town will be equally as successful this year.

Now the Tenby in Bloom Week is about to happen for the 31st time.

The new chairman of Tenby in Bloom is Sue Lane, while her mother, Joan Attewell, has taken over from the late Mrs. Pat Dart, who was the founder treasurer of the committee and worked tirelessly over many years for the benefit of the town.

As has become tradition, the competition for floral displays has different classes for houses, hotels, schools, business premises and group displays.

Winners of each class receive cash awards, £10 for the first prize and £5 for the runners-up, as well as, where appropriate, a trophy. Highly commended entries all receive a certificate.

New this year is a trophy in memory of Ken Prosser which is being presented for the best front garden for members of the North Tenby Residents' Association.

Judging will take place on Tuesday, July 8, and entry forms are available from the De Valence Pavilion, Tenby Library, Home Handicrafts in White Lion Street and Four Seasons Florist in Upper Frog Street.

The organisers are hoping for a bumper turnout and the closing date for entries is Friday, July 4.

The prize-giving will take place at the Fourcroft Hotel at 10.30 am on Thursday, July 24, with awards being presented by the Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas, who is president of Tenby in Bloom.

POSTER COMPETITION

Look out for all the colourful children's posters for Tenby in Bloom which will be displayed throughout the town.

Around 500 posters have been distributed to schools in the area and the children are busy working on their artistic creations. The awards will be presented to the winners at their school at a later date.

WINDOW COMPETITION

The judges will also be having a 'walkabout' to look for the best window display in the town.

All shop owners are encouraged to join in the fun of the event and help create an interesting an attractive vista for visitors and locals alike.

"All shop windows in the town will be judged during Bloom week. Displays do not have to have flowers in them or have anything relating to Tenby in Bloom," said a Bloom committee spokesman.

"All the windows will be judged on their merit as to the most attractive relating to their business."

TROPHIES

By kind permission of Mr. David Hughes, the Bloom trophies will be on display in the window of T. P. Hughes, along with the national Wales in Bloom trophy.

Tenby in Bloom is grateful to the many participants who have made the resort a better and more colourful place to live and more attractive to visitors.

FLOWER FESTIVAL

Also a popular part of Tenby in Bloom Week is the spectacular Tenby in Bloom Flower Festival at St. Mary's Church from July 10 to 14.

The theme for the displays this year will be 'Hymns of Praise' and, as usual, there will be musical items, together with song and verse, throughout the festival.

Always a great attraction, the floral creations can be viewed between 10 am and 9 pm each day, with the exception of the last day when the doors close at 6 pm.

Refreshments will also be available in Church House.

In addition, on the Thursday evening there will be a concert at 7.30 pm with various artistes in aid of the Noah's Ark Appeal, while on the Sunday evening there will be a united service at 6 pm.

Proceeds from this year's Flower Festival will be shared between the Air Ambulance Wales and the Friends of Tenby Cottage Hospital.