Forres in Bloom has been in existence since 1990 when a group of gardeners met and agreed to participate, in partnership with The Moray Council, in Entente Florale Europe 1990 and were awarded second place.

Our main aim is to make our ‘bonny’ town even more beautiful for residents and visitors through our efforts to provide all year floral interest while ensuring that conservation; biodiversity, sustainable planting and responsible management of the environment are our key considerations.

Residents and businesses give enthusiastic support by maintaining their environs and private gardens to a very high standard. Forres has built up an international reputation for horticultural expertise; accolades in recent years have included 30 major awards.

These successes are due to an effective working partnership between the Forres in Bloom committee and The Moray Council.

Over the years we have continued to develop our policy to plant sustainable plant material in the many attractive beds around the town.

Car park areas are also well maintained with perennial shrubs and trees.

Trial areas throughout the town have been planted with perennials, to reduce the amount of annual bedding, and the success of this initiative has encouraged us to continue planting more sustainable beds in the future.

Recently, a model Nimrod aircraft, was relocated from Grant Park to the War Veterans’ Garden area.

The bed surrounding the Nimrod was planted with uncinia, euonymus and ceanothus to represent the red, white and blue of the Royal Air Force roundel.

The ceanothus did not survive extreme winter weather. It was replaced for summer 2010 with ageratum and replanted with grasses in the autumn.

At the War Memorial a bed had been replanted with trees and shrubs in shades of yellow and blue to represent the Royal British Legion colours. Each year in the autumn local children help to plant spring bulbs in tubs, beds and planters throughout the town.

When the flowering period is over, bulbs and spring bedding arc lifted for future re-use by Forres in Bloom, The Wee FiBbees and other local groups.

The town is well known for its summer floral sculptures in Grant Park. Throughout the town businesses and local individuals sponsor window boxes, hanging baskets and barrels. The bed in the Market Green area is planted every year to recognise anniversaries of a range of organizations. This year it marks the 21st Birthday of Forres in Bloom.

The local Football Club, Forres Mechanics, recently celebrated its 125th Anniversary and to mark this milestone the beds in Museum Square are planted in their colours, chocolate and gold.

Forres in Bloom applied successfully for environment improvement funding to install watering systems in Grant Park for the summer bedding sculptures to reduce water

Please go to the membership page to download our 2008 portfolio.

For an overview of how forres in Bloom got started please click here