GREEN fingered gardeners in Tavistock are being asked to show the town what's behind their gates for a competition in the run-up to the Britain in Bloom South West awards. While the town is busy being preened in preparation for the Britain in Bloom South West 2014 competition in July, Tavistock BID is asking residents to send in pictures of their own gardening efforts to be in with a chance of being crowned Tavistock's Best Garden. BID manager Lisa Piper was keen to emphasise that it was a competition for all gardens — no matter what size. She said: 'I know there are a lot of green-fingered people in Tavistock, and people who have recently taken up gardening. 'It's not just big gardens we want to see, they can be any size — small gardens, vegetable patches, herb gardens or courtyards that have been done up with flower boxes.' BID is asking residents to send in a photograph of the garden by June 18, so they can be featured in the Times on June 26. The winner and two runners up will be given a prize and certificate and will be announced in the Times on July 3. There is also a category for best floral display by a restaurant/public house. This is the first time the town has entered the main award, after winning a Silver Gilt in the Pennant awards for BID towns last year. Tavistock will also enter the BID town award again this year, and has five entries in the 'It's Your Neighbourhood' category — for community and volunteer-led projects. Tavistock BID has been working with a number of community groups, including Transition Tavistock and Tidy Tavy, as well as the town council, to make sure the town is looking its best in time for the judging, which is expected in early July. Hanging baskets were being put up around the town last week in an initiative by BID, and the town hall is set to be decorated with yellow flowers in celebration of the Royal Horticultural Society's Britain in Bloom golden anniversary. Lisa said BID was at the stage of agreeing on a tour route for the judges and soon hopes to have the underpass in the Meadows cleaned up by the Community Pay Back scheme and re-painted by Tavistock College students. 'The focus of Britain in Bloom is not so much on horticulture anymore, it is based a lot on community involvement, education and heritage — which Tavistock has a lot of. 'We won silver in the BID towns' category last year and we have never entered the main awards before. 'If we can get a gold or silver it would be such an accolade for the town. It is a well-recognised award and we could use it in all our promotion. 'People will see that we have the award and will think it must be a lovely place to visit. It all helps to encourage people into the town.' Submissions of garden photos should be sent via email to [email protected]">[email protected] or via post to Tavistock Times Gazette, 14 Brook Street, Tavistock, PL19 0HD, ensuring name, address and telephone number are attached to the entry, by June 18.