Members of the Devizes and Roundway in Bloom committee are hoping for better weather during the summer than that which greeted their launch event in Hillworth Park on Monday.

Councillors from Devizes Town Council and Roundway Parish Council, along with representatives of community groups that have pledged their support, gathered outside the Park Centre as the drizzle fell.

They are determined to hold onto the gold award in the South West in Bloom contest they have clinched for the past three years.

Groups taking part this year include Devizes Rotary Club, Devizes PHAB and the Drews Pond Wood Project.

Carole Berry, the town council’s direct services manager, who is co-ordinating the effort, said: “Devizes and Roundway are going for gold once more in 2014. We are very proud to have achieved this in the last three consecutive years.

“In 2013 Hillworth Park also received the City of Bath Trophy for Landscaping. New discretionary awards have been introduced for 2014 for best park, best allotment site and best display using field poppy. It’s the anniversary of the start of the First World War, so we are planting red field poppies and encouraging neighbourhood groups to do the same.

“This is also the 50th year of In Bloom and we have been invited to join in nationally by planting golden flowers and free seeds are being offered to schools. The In Bloom committee is contacting local schools to get them started.

“Judging for the regional competition will take place in July.”

Zena Robson, chairman of the Devizes and Roundway in Bloom committee, is urging local people to enter this year’s Open Gardens weekend on June 21 and 22, when the gardens will be on show to the public to raise money for the Mayor’s Appeal.

She said: “Last year we managed to organise the open gardens for the only wet weekend of the summer but we still had 21 gardens involved and a lot of people turned out. We are hoping for better weather and a larger number of gardens this year.”

Anyone who would like to offer their garden should contact the town hall on (01380) 722160.