Cumbria in Bloom has invited gardeners across Cumbria to share their year of growing via social media, as the charity extends the deadline for the 2022 Cumbria in Bloom competition to meet demand.

Entries for this year’s event were due to close this Saturday, however with so much interest in the competition this year, the closing date for entries has been extended to Sunday, May 29.

The organisation which organises the annual Cumbria in Bloom competition, part of the Royal Horticultural Society's Britain in Bloom event, has had many enquiries from individuals, groups and organisations, keen to take part.

Cumbria in Bloom is now on Instagram and has set up a Facebook page to encourage more-especially younger people- to take up gardening.

One of 18 Royal Horticultural Society regions, Cumbria in Bloom was formed in 1983 to encourage people to take part in the annual competition to improve horticulture, floriculture and environmental issues in the region.

Chair of Cumbria in Bloom, Ronnie Auld, said: "Last year we continued to host Cumbria in Bloom thanks to the internet. Individuals and community groups were able to video and photograph their gardens throughout the year, to provide a Covid safe entry for the competition.

"We have been hosting our committee meetings on Zoom and can see the real benefits of bringing the gardening community together online - and hopefully encourage more young people to discover the joys of growing and gardening.

"We have been building up our Instagram and new Facebook page and are now inviting people to 'like' and 'tag' Cumbria in Bloom into their gardening posts and to share their horticultural tips and photos."

This year Cumbria in Bloom is focusing particularly on sustainability, water management and biodiversity, and posts are already live on the charity's social media platforms with advice and information on the subjects.

The annual Cumbria in Bloom competition is now open to all gardeners with the launch of the 2022 event - and to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee the Cumbria in Bloom Management Committee has introduced a special category entry for this year.

Full details of all the categories and all entry forms are available from the Cumbria in Bloom website and get social with Cumbria in Bloom on Instagram @cumbria_in_bloom and on Facebook @Cumbria-in-Bloom