SPRING is in the air, which means that Royston in Bloom 2009 is just around the corner. This year s Royston in Bloom, which is being supported by The Crow, will see events taking place throughout the year, including the ever-popular garden competition, wh

SPRING is in the air, which means that Royston in Bloom 2009 is just around the corner.

This year's Royston in Bloom, which is being supported by The Crow, will see events taking place throughout the year, including the ever-popular garden competition, which will recognise the area's best gardens.

The Blooms team are also planning to enter Anglia in Bloom this year, and will be looking to build on the success they achieved last time they entered, in 2007, when they were given a Silver award in the town category.

Angela Louch, from the Royston in Bloom committee, said: "We are making a special effort to present Royston at its best.

"To this end we are organising for the first time a 'spring clean' of the whole town.

"Royston has a wonderful team of street cleaners who turn out in all weathers and at very early hours, but the task is daunting and there are corners and hedge-bottoms that are not in public ownership which they are unable to reach.

"If every business, householder and flat dweller were to join us and take half-an-hour to clean their immediate areas imagine what a difference it would make."

The week of March 29-April 5 has been set aside for the Big Royston Tidy Up, and the Royston in Bloom organisers can supply bags and tabards if needed.

Prizes will be awarded for the best cleared area, as proved by photographic evidence.

For more details contact the town hall on 01763 245484.

Royston in Bloom will be officially launched at the 2009 Blooms Night, which is taking place on Tuesday, April 21,at Royston Town Hall.

Main speaker on the evening will be Ken Akers, who will be talking about sinks, troughs, and containers for alpine plants.

A representative from Anglia in Bloom will also be present to do a short presentation on the competition.

Sponsors of the event, Country Gardens, will be on hand, selling a variety of plants and shrubs.

The Blooms Night begins at 7.30pm, and all are welcome.