Guildford in Bloom’s crowdfunding appeal has hit problems, when they were told only £3000 match funding would be added to the fund.

Initial promotion of the scheme suggested match funding was likely to be 50% up to a maximum of £10,000. Therefore Guildford in Bloom started a campaign to fund 2023 and 2024 with a total of just over £22,000 to be raised.

At this point in time, with just one month to go until the campaign ends, it was anticipated that only £1000 would need to be raised to reach target, but now £8000 needs to be raised in just 30 days.

Since January 2022 Guildford has been an independent Association, entirely reliant on loyal and generous sponsors, but with increased costs and no steady financial support, there is a shortfall in the funding putting its long term future in jeopardy. Guildford in Bloom is run entirely by a dedicated team of volunteers.

Guildford in Bloom was determined to keep its competitions for residents, community groups, schools and businesses free to enter. Part of the Guildford in Bloom ethos is to encourage diverse habitats that encourage and protect wildlife, especially our pollinators. Creating pollinator pitstops and wildlife areas in gardens is key to the Guildford in Bloom ethos to help reverse the decline in numbers.

Guildford in Bloom has built up a considerable momentum in promoting good eco-practices to protect wildlife. They work with several schools, rewarding them for bringing gardening into the curriculum and supporting teachers to do this. For them to continue to do this – they must reach our crowdfunding target. If they don’t reach target, they don’t get to keep any of the fantastic pledges already made.

The Blooming Picnic in the Castle Grounds is also a Guildford in Bloom event in partnership with Guildford Fringe Festival and Experience Guildford. It is important that this event remains free for the community to attend. This year it was attended by around 1500 people who enjoyed free entertainment from the bandstand, and provided a platform for local charities and businesses to get exposure.

Cllr Paul Spooner, Chairman of Guildford in Bloom says: “Guildford in Bloom has been an integral part of Guildford’s community for almost 42 years – and has meant so much to so many people to see their efforts rewarded. We intended to raise enough funding to allow us to expand next year with more events promoting wildlife and ecofriendly horticultural practices.

We have done incredibly well so far thanks to some fantastically generous donations, but it is just not enough, and the amount of match funding from Guildford Borough Council is extremely disappointing leaving us in this critical position.

We appeal to everyone who has been involved in Guildford in Bloom, both past and present to help us by pledging to our crowdfunding appeal and sharing this as far as possible.”

It must be stressed that enough money has been raised to ensure that 2023 will go on as planned, culminating in an Awards ceremony at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre on 5 September where all entrants will receive their awards.

2024 however, is seriously in jeopardy with the Guildford in Bloom team seriously considering whether it can continue in its current form.

The link to our Crowdfunding page can be found on https://www.spacehive.com/guildfordinbloom and there is also a link from the Guildford in Bloom website www.guildfordinbloom.com. Guildford in Bloom is appealing to all those who value the Guildford in Bloom competitions and messages to pledge their support with as much as possible. Businesses who would like to become official sponsors should contact info@guildfordinbloom.com to discuss sponsorship packages.

In the meantime, the 2023 Guildford in Bloom competitions are open for entries. Full details on www.guildfordinbloom.com