Each spring and summer they are a riot of colour and their blooms are admired by thousands of passers-by.
But next year it will be cauliflowers rather than flowers that attract the attention outside one of Leeds’ best-known buildings.
The council has launched a “design an edible flowerbed” competition, which is open to all and will see the winning four entries turned into reality outside the authority’s Civic Hall headquarters .
Run by the council’s parks and countryside service and the Leeds Floral Initiative, the competition is part of the new Feed Leeds project, which aims to bring individuals, groups and organisations together to promote and support local food growing in the city.
The brief to entrants is to produce flowerbeds which look attractive, complement the city centre surroundings and inspire people to grow their own food.
More than half the plants in each entry must be edible. The beds will need to look attractive from April to September and must be easy to maintain with no structures included.
Designs must be able to fit into rectangular plots measuring 6m by 4m. The competition is open until February 15, For an entry pack email parks@leeds.gov.uk or they can also be picked up from Farnley Hall at Farnley Park, Hall Lane.
The winners will receive garden vouchers worth up to £250 and see their designs planted out in the Civic Hall flowerbeds. They will also be invited as special guests to the 2013 Leeds in Bloom ceremony.
Each flowerbed will feature a sign with the winner’s name on, while each winner will also receive a certificate and have their photo taken next to their completed design.
Coun Jack Dunn, the council’s support executive member for the environment, said: “This is a fantastic way to fire the imagination of gardeners and creative people of all ages across the city.
“To see your flowerbed proudly on show outside Civic Hall knowing thousands of people are going to see it will hopefully inspire lots of people to take part.”
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