READING is among the five Thames and Chiltern finalists selected for the Britain in Bloom gardening competition this year.

RHS’s Britain in Bloom gardening competition aims make local communities recognise the importance of green areas for the climate.

It also wants to tackle wildlife disappearing due to climate change and slow down the rapid rate of paving over green spaces with cement.

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The competition, which has now been running for 56 years, has announced 70 finalists for this year.

Finalists will be showcasing their horticultural skill, community and environmental efforts.

They have made it to the UK final based on their progress regionally and compete across 11 categories including village, town and coastal.

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Each of the finalists will be visited by two official RHS judges in August.

They will compete for a medal, a category win and a chance to be named ‘Champion of Champions.’

Chair of the Britain in Bloom judging panel, Darren Share, said: “We’re noticing more towns and cities keen to tackle some of today’s most pressing challenges by tapping into the benefits of urban greening, with reasons ranging from concerns about our changing climate and air pollution to turning the tide on high street decline.”

Last year, the Scottish city of Perth won the competition.