As Biodiversity Week blossoms across the country, Louth County Council has launched Louth in Bloom 2025, a community-driven competition celebrating sustainable living, green spaces, and biodiversity-friendly gardening.

Now in its sixth year, Louth in Bloom encourages individuals, community groups, schools, and businesses to transform their outdoor spaces into vibrant, eco-conscious havens. From pollinator-friendly planting to water conservation and innovative reuse, the competition highlights how small changes can make a big impact on local biodiversity and climate resilience.

This annual competition has seen a growing number of participants, each year showcasing more innovative and stunning projects that highlight the county’s natural beauty. By launching during Biodiversity Week, we want to highlight the important link between biodiversity and how we live, garden, and grow.

Louth in Bloom invites individuals, groups, businesses and organisations across Louth to showcase their commitment to environmental guardianship and sustainable living through the eight diverse categories as follows:

• Best Kept Estate/Street/Apartment complex – Category A – less than 50 houses
  Acknowledging small housing estates that exhibit outstanding communal gardens, green spaces and overall enhancement.
• Best Kept Estate/Street/Apartment Complex – Category B – more than 51 houses
  Honouring medium to large housing estates that have made significant strides in enhancing their communal spaces, creating welcoming environments and adding to the overall vibrancy of the county.
• Best Front Garden in a Town/Village
  Recognising private front gardens in a town or village that showcase exceptional horticultural skills and creative design while promoting biodiversity.
• Best Front Garden in a Rural Area
  Honouring rural front gardens that reflect exceptional horticultural skill and creative design, while nurturing local wildlife and promoting biodiversity.
• Best Presented Business
  Celebrating local businesses that have made significant efforts in enhancing their shop fronts and contributing to the visual charm of the community.
• Best Presented Hospitality
  Honouring hotels, restaurants, cafes, and other hospitality establishments that have created captivating and inviting entrances, adding to the overall vibrancy of Louth.
• Best Biodiversity / Sustainable Innovative initiative/Project
  Celebrating projects that have made a meaningful contribution to protecting and enriching Louth’s natural biodiversity through habitat restoration, conservation efforts, and community education. Recognising forward-thinking initiatives that champion sustainability across the county, including the use of eco-friendly technologies, renewable energy, and environmentally conscious practices.
• Best Tidy Town Sustainable Initiative or Project
  Recognising innovative projects undertaken by Tidy Town Groups that promote sustainability, eco-friendly technologies, and renewable energy solutions within the county.

The Louth in Bloom competition is judged by a panel of respected Judges who evaluate entries based on creativity, sustainability, biodiversity, and community involvement. Winners of each category receive well-deserved recognition and prestigious awards at the Louth in Bloom Gala Awards Ceremony. These accolades not only celebrate individual and collective achievements but also inspire and motivate others to pursue excellence in enhancing their environments.

Cllr Kevin Callan, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, captured the spirit of the competition, saying: “Louth in Bloom is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and showcase our collective dedication to enhancing and protecting our local environment. We encourage everyone to get involved and take pride in their achievements in sustainable gardening, environmental stewardship, and biodiversity conservation."

David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, said: “We believe the appearance of our estates, businesses, and hospitality venues is central to building vibrant, welcoming communities. The Louth in Bloom competition is our way of recognising and celebrating the outstanding efforts of residents, local businesses, and organisations who work hard to enhance the visual appeal of Louth.”

Join the Bloom

To participate in the Louth in Bloom competition, please visit www.louthcoco.ie/louthinbloom, where nomination forms are available to download or can be submitted through their online portal.  The deadline for submissions is Friday, 04^th July 2025.