The competition
Towns and Villages in Bloom
The Conseil National des Villes et Villages Fleuris, an Association under the Law of 1901 chaired by the Minister for Tourism, organises the annual "France in Bloom" competition - "Villes et Villages Fleuris".

Its Governing Board consists of representatives of the public sector (Ministers, Local Authorities, and Public Bodies), and of the tourism, horticulture and landscaping industries. Practical aspects are dealt with by a team of four.

Its budget is provided by the Secretariat of State for Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture, through the intermediary of ONIFLHOR (the French interbranch organisation for fruits, vegetables and horticulture), the horticultural profession and various private partners.
 
History
In 1959, Robert BURON, the then Minister for Public Works, Transport and Tourism, who was impressed by the charm of the villages of Alsace, put Jean SAINTENY in charge of creating, within the Commissariat Général au Tourisme, the French agency in charge of tourism, a department whose remit would be to encourage the French to decorate their towns, villages, homes and farms with flowers.

At that time, six hundred local councils, some of whom are still on the competition winners list, committed themselves to this task. So some Régions or Départements have a long tradition of floral decoration - Alsace, Mayenne, Loiret, Ain…

In 1972, Marcel ANTHONIOZ, the Secretary of State for Tourism, set up the Comité National pour le Fleurissement de la France, an association governed by the Law of 1901.

From 1988 onwards, within the framework of the decentralisation laws, the Committee ran the competition with the support of the Départements and Régions. Special Prizes were also created (see the chapter headed Special Prizes).

An assessment table common to all the juries was prepared in 1996. The criteria were extended to more environmental concepts.

In 2002, some 11,000 local councils, almost one third of French local councils, entered the national competition.

In the last 40 years, the competition has won a place in the hearts of the French as a guarantee of the quality of the living environment of towns and villages.

In 2002, by decision of the Governing Board, the organisation changed its name and became the Conseil National des Villes et Villages Fleuris.
 

Its Work
Organising the Competition

Initially set up to reward the gardening skills of local communities, the competition is now designed to promote and encourage any action designed to embellish open spaces and improve the quality of life. The competition awards a series of Flowers (from one to four) and a Grand Prix corresponding to the "Villes et Villages Fleuris" title. The Flowers are shown on a specific sign, represented by a panel seen when entering the town or village.






National, free of charge, and open to every local council, the competition is organised on three levels:
-The Département obtains the applications from the local councils. A jury from the Département selects those most likely to be awarded prizes at regional level.
-The first, second and third flowers are awarded among the latter by a jury from the Région, and those who can compete for the fourth flower are selected.
-The national jury awards this fourth flower and the Grands Prix.

Communication, information and awareness
Information for the Local Councils
-Fleurir la France, the letter from the committee, of which 12,000 copies are produced, is sent out twice a year to all the local councils registered for the competition, as well as the relevant institutions and partners.
-The national Palmarès comes out once a year, listing all the local councils awarded the title. -La Remise des Prix, the awards ceremony, is attended every February by 800 elected representatives and decision-makers from the technical departments.
-Les Assises Nationales des Villes et Villages Fleuris take place every two years, bringing together representatives of the public and private sectors interested in the development and promotion of floral decoration.
-A conference held every other year covers a more specialised topic.
-The Comité, with a presence at the Salon des Maires de France as well as several regional fairs and events, provides the local councils with information and advice.

Information for the Public
-70,000 copies of Balades dans les Villes et Villages Fleuris, a tourist promotion document, are produced. It lists the towns and villages awarded the Grand Prix and Four Flowers. It can be obtained from the local councils in question, and is given away free with the June edition of the magazine Mon Jardin, Ma Maison.
An electronic version can be seen on the Internet, at: www.franceinbloom.com

Information for the Press
Promotion of the Villes et Villages Fleuris campaign is strongly supported by the media. The Committee provides press releases describing all its actions, holds press conferences, and links journalists with the national jury to pass on information on the Villes et Villages Fleuris.
 
Evaluation Criteria
The Ville Fleurie or Village Fleuri title is awarded on the basis of a detailed charter based on two sets of criteria.
-The overall planting of the district (trees, shrubs, and flowers), counts for 55% of the final mark. -The work done by the local council to improve the living environment counts for 45% (cleanliness, environmental friendliness, embellishment of the buildings, control of advertising, entertainments, awareness campaigns and the participation of the populace in the floral décor).
 
What the Jury looks at when it visits a district:
-The distribution of the landscaping arrangements through the whole territory of the district.
-Adaptation and integration of the arrangements in line with the constraints of the site and the local environment.
-The priority given to ground planting.
- Diversity in the choice of plants.
-Care taken with colour and form in the compositions and harmonies.
-Respect for and promotion of regional special characteristics.
-The quality and maintenance of the plants.
-Landscaping work carried out all year round.
-Landscape management: green plan, tree stock management, watering, etc.
-The quality of maintenance of the building stock.
-The incorporation of the floral landscaping in the overall policy for landscaping the district.
-Coordination with the various departments involved in the landscaping (the departments in charge of the parks, highways, town planning and communications).
-Consultation with users and local populace.
-Promotion of awareness and consultation with the land-owning bodies (housing organisations, SNCF, the Direction Départementale de l'Equipement, etc.).
In each location, the Jury takes into account the size of the district and its population, its specific characteristics, and the date of its visit and the climatic conditions. In order to obtain the Quatre Fleurs or the Grand Prix, local authorities must present outstanding floral displays integrated in an overall landscaping policy.
 
The impact of France in Bloom
It contributes to improving the living environment by developing private and public landscaped areas. It falls within a global environmental policy.
It contributes to the image of the district, of which it is an important part, and can be an efficient tool for communication.
It is a too for the promotion of tourism, both as a stand-alone tourist product and as a factor of the quality of hospitality.
Economic role due to its spin-offs and the jobs created in the horticulture and landscaping industries, as well as in the tourism sector.
Social role of landscaping due to its federating aspect, a real factor for social cohesion.
And, finally, an educational role, as it makes young people aware of the need to look after the environment and work to improve the living environment.
 
France in Bloom, in figures
The Villes et Villages Fleuris competition affects about one in three French districts.
In 2002, some 11,000 towns and villages took part, 60% of which had populations of less than 1,000.
2165 districts were awarded the title and can place the Ville Fleurie or Village Fleuri panel on their outskirts.
161 have 4 Fleurs classification, and these include 63 Grands Prix.

The Trophée du Département Fleuri awarded for five years, relates to 16 Départements: Haut-Rhin, Loiret, Ain, Haute-Savoie, Seine Saint Denis, Mayenne, Saône et Loire, Bas Rhin, Côtes d'Armor, Marne, Rhône, Vendée, Landes, Territoire de Belfort, Nord, and Moselle.