A HORTICULTURE charity is celebrating its volunteers.

Cumbria in Bloom is shining a spotlight on those who make the county a better place this Volunteers Week (June 1-7).

It comes as the organisation has had an increase in community groups and schools taking part in the annual Cumbria in Bloom awards.

This is the first year the awards will have assessors rather than judges visiting those who enter. Assessors will travel the county providing advice and feedback on entries.

Liz Auld, Cumbria in Bloom administrator, said: "We are all volunteers working to support communities across Cumbria to improve their local environment and we want as many people to get involved as possible.

“As well as attracting new members to the assessor's team, we are delighted to have seen an increase in entries, especially in the It’s Your Neighbourhood category this year - where volunteers enhance their local neighbourhood through gardening.

"Volunteers are making a real, positive difference to communities across Cumbria.

“In recent years, many groups and individuals have been put off taking part because of the judging element of the awards.

"We don't want to judge people but support and encourage them to make the best of their local area. This is why we have replaced the emphasis on ‘judges’ to ‘assessors’ for the 2023 awards.”

Assessors will be out visiting communities and schools from next month and presenting awards at three events across Cumbria in the autumn.

This year, it will focus on sustainability, water management and biodiversity.