CHESTER will be host to judges over the next couple of weeks as the city prepares for two Chester in Bloom competitions.

Competition judges John Shepley and Brendan Cook this week Roger Burnett and Andrew Jackson next week as the city takes part in both Britain in Bloom and the North West in Bloom competitions.

The judges will be looking at a range of criteria including environmental issues, recycling, community involvement and play areas.

In their whistle stop tour they will visit Grosvenor Park and The Queens School, travelling by boat from the Groves to the Sandy Lane aqua park and play area and on to the Caldy Nature Park.

Chester hopes to retain the North West in Bloom title of Best City and has been nominated to represent the North West in the Britain in Bloom competition for the first time since winning the silver award in 2002.

Chester’s own judges are currently judging the fourteenth Chester in Bloom competition. The judges will visit over 100 entries competing in nine categories; large garden, small garden, container planting, business premises, public premises, community project, school gardens, allotments and the new category this year best petal power display.

Chester has to wait until the end of September to see if the regional and national judges have been impressed enough to award a prize.