A PRESTIGIOUS gardening competition was launched in Tredegar yesterday.

This year’s Wales in Bloom was introduced at the recently restored Bedwellty House and Park.

The competition is run with help from the Royal Horticultural Society and is split into ten main categories.

These include the categories of city, large town, small town, frontage and or grounds, and self-catering holiday accommodation.

The competition also has the It’s Your Neighbourhood Campaign, which tries to create links with local businesses and community groups and is a non-competitive category.

This could be a few friends or neighbours who want to improve an area and make it a greener place to live.

Wales in Bloom chairman Jim Goodwin said: “Here, after many years of endeavour, the former ironmasters’ residence and park has been restored to its former glory.

The arboretum, water features, kitchen garden, floral beds and formal gardens have something of interest for every season, and they change and improve with age. We look forward to seeing the park grow from strength to strength.”

A fruit tree was planted in the park’s kitchen garden yesterday to mark the launch of the competition.

For more information and to take part see walesinbloom.

org.uk To take part in the It’s Your Neighbourhood project, call Cheryl Ridgewell on 01495 272387.