SOUTH West in Bloom judges are touring Melksham today to inspect the town’s entry in the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual competition to find the region’s cleanest, greenest and most beautiful cities, towns and villages.

Over the past few weeks, residents and community groups led by the South West in Bloom Melksham group having been sprucing up the town ahead of the big day, picking up litter, tidying the parks and public open spaces and sprucing up their gardens.

The RHS gardening judges will tour Melksham to assess the town’s efforts against three key criteria - community participation, environmental responsibility and horticultural achievement.

Kathy Iles, from South West in Bloom Melksham, said: “Our group of 20 plus volunteers has worked tirelessly to make the town looks its best for the big day. We have been planting beds, weeding and tidying throughout the town, making bright and colourful flags to fly in the town centre and have organised community litter picking events.”

In addition, students at Lackham College have donated hundreds of summer bedding plants to boost Melksham’s entry. The plants will complement those already being planted around Melksham.

South West in Bloom Melksham is one of 15 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom and It’s Your Neighbourhood groups being filmed as part of a new BBC Two Series about the quintessentially British gardening competition. The series will be broadcast in 2018.

Now in its 53rd year, this is the first time cameras have followed Britain in Bloom groups as they prepare for the biggest day in community gardening. Series makers hope to capture the excitement as the groups vie to be recognised as one of the cleanest, greenest and most beautiful places in the country.

Kathy added: “We are delighted that the BBC has chosen to consider Melksham for their programme. Regardless of whether we make the final programme or not, we are very proud of the work we do to bring the community together and make Melksham a happier and more beautiful place.”

South West in Bloom Melksham is competing for the top spot in the South West, with hopes of making it to the national finals in 2018.