IT'S all hands to the trowel, seed packet and watering can as the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) launches its Britain in Bloom 2008 competition this week.

Residents of Malvern have been working on their campaign to scoop some of the annual regional awards since November and are trying to encourage more people to get involved. This year's theme is Local Roots, which has been chosen by the RHS to inspire communities to come together to improve their home towns, cities and villages.

Malvern in Bloom chairman John Jordan said there had already been six entries for the neighbourhood awards for 2008, compared with two last year.

"We started with one entry - the hospital - in the neighbourhood awards in 2006, then the Madresfield Road allotment holders entered last year to make it two," he said. "This year we have the Chase School, the Nag's Head pub, a group of residents from Lansdowne Crescent and the Elgar Avenue regeneration group, as well as the hospital and the allotment holders.

"The town has moved into the large town category and this means more people can take part. I am also interpreting Local Roots as meaning our forefathers and the history of the town.

"I am involving the sea cadets in creating a heritage trail of gravestones in the cemetery. A lot of interesting people are buried there like Dyson Perrins and Private Charles Sutton, who was a soldier in the First World War. He was brought back to Malvern on a gun carriage and buried with full military honours. We are doing some research into local history and finding interesting people who are buried in the cemetery."

Mr Jordan said they were hoping to involve shopkeepers and traders making and selling local food, selling Malvern water and books by local authors.

Anyone wishing to enter should contact Jenny Redfern, Heart of England in Bloom co-ordinator, PO Box 712, Worcester WR4 9GW, or telephone her on 07775 930 182.

Malvern Town Council is also giving advice to those entering, on 01684 566667.