JUDGES have been greeted by beautiful floral displays as they toured the area for the Yorkshire in Bloom Competition.

Spring flowerbeds impressed the judges as they made the first visit of the year to Ilkley.

Members of volunteers group Ilkley in Bloom showed visiting judges Phillip Young and Beatrice Myers around some of the floral highlights and most attractive green corners of Ilkley.

As the competition is about environmental issues and wider community gardening efforts, as well as flowers, the judges also visited Ashlands Primary School on Leeds Road.

They talked to children who planted crocus bulbs with the help of Ilkley Rotary Club.

Mr Young said: “It’s been nice to see such a community effort, we’ve met some very dedicated people.”

He reminded community how more volunteers are always welcome to help keeping towns looking at their best.

Another regular Yorkshire in Bloom and Britain in Bloom competitor of recent years, Addingham, is not in the regional contest this year. Village group Addingham Garden Friends, which maintains floral displays around Addingham, has instead decided to concentrate on gardening for the village.

Warm Spring sunshine greeted Yorkshire in Bloom judges when they visited Otley recently.

The organisation’s chairman, Brendan Mowforth, and fellow judge Timothy Stewart inspected the town’s floral highlights on Wednesday, April 8.

Guided by Otley in Bloom members, the visitors cast a collective eye over the Pool Road Gateway, Otley Wetlands Nature Reserve, and the daffodil display on Newall Carr Bank.

They were also shown the nectar bed in Wharfemeadows Park, roadside planting on Rotary Way, the Burras Lane allotments and the Memorial Garden.

The visit was concluded with a walk around the town centre, a short presentation held at Courtyard Planters, on Westgate, and then a buffet lunch at the Black Horse Hotel.

Otley in Bloom competition co-ordinator David Bellerby said: “We would like to thank everyone who contributed to a successful judging day.”

The group is now looking forward to summer judging, which will take place on the morning of Thursday, July 2. Otley won a Gold Award in the competition’s Town section last year, and was also named category winner.

Volunteers in Bramhope and Horsforth had been working hard to make the best possible impression for the judges.

In Horsforth the In Bloom group joined forces with Horsforth Church Together to take part in a litter pick to ensure the town looked its best before judging.

A spokeswoman said: “The weather was against them but they were determined to have Horsforth looking neat and tidy.” Volunteers have also been busy planting in Rawdon, where an In Bloom group was formed last year. Rawdon has not yet entered Yorkshire in Bloom. Gardens are judged in Spring and Summer. The special categories include public, private and charitable establishments, business premises, visitor attractions, caravan and camping sites, youth environmental projects and further education establishments.