Norwich has been hailed as a 'blooming' marvellous city and picked from more than 1,000 entries to take part in a national horticultural competition.

Ranging from small rural villages to major industrial cities, each finalist in the 2012 Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom UK Finals is aiming for a gold medal – and the coveted title of category winner.

Norwich has been placed into the City category, alongside Northampton, Oldham, Westminster and Aberdeen.

In Norfolk, Filby is also up for an award in the Village category and Great Yarmouth in the Coastal over 12,000 population category. The last time Norwich was in the national competition was in 2008 when it won the Urban Regeneration Category.

RHS Britain in Bloom is the nation's largest environmental campaign and involves more than 200,000 volunteers.

Julie Brociek-Coulton, from the Friends of Norwich in Bloom, who is also a Sewell ward city councillor, said: 'Norwich is looking particularly colourful and flowery this year, and it's definitely blooming.

'I think that having flowers and colour in the city, at roundabouts, etc, is good for the whole community.'

Sue Biggs, RHS director general, said: 'RHS Britain in Bloom would be nothing without the enormous number of volunteers who are committed to greening up their corner of the nation – dynamic people, all wanting to make the UK a better place to live.

'Together they plant more than 115,000 trees, 352,000 shrubs and 21.6m plants and bulbs annually. The positive impact this has on the environment is enormous.'

Started in 1964 as a way of marketing the nation through floral displays, RHS Britain in Bloom is now a campaign that brings communities together to enhance the look of a place through gardening and environmental projects.

The RHS judging panel will tour in July, awarding points against three key criteria – horticultural achievement, community participation and environmental responsibility.

The results will be announced in October at a special awards ceremony in St Peter Port, Guernsey.

Is your group/organisation up for a national award? Call reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk