A year's worth of environmental effort and horticultural hard work was on show yesterday as judging began for the Anglia in Bloom competition.

The Friends of Norwich in Bloom were buoyant as they took two Anglia in Bloom judges on a three-and-a-half-hour tour of the achievements of communities, businesses, schools, groups and organisations.

Judges were impressed to find a city with a strong level of community involvement and to see standards have not declined despite the recession.

Vice-chairman of Anglia in Bloom and competition judge Brian Thornton said: 'It is very impressive. Norwich has a very good team working together.

'What stands out is community involvement. We have seen several community initiatives and it is very positive. The Norwich team bring people in.'

Fellow judge Bill Boardman said: 'The fact the council is not producing the money but the standard is equally as high, if not higher, is very impressive.

'The sustainable stuff is very high quality, the strongest I have seen anywhere, even in villages. For a city it is remarkable, a city can be a very lonely place to live, but not here.'

The judges visited a number of places in the city centre that had benefited from the green touch of volunteering residents and the sponsorship of local businesses.

They admired work by students and staff at City of Norwich School (CNS) on Eaton Road and City College on Ipswich Road.

Work carried out at St Stephen's Church on Rampant Horse Street, and by Eaton Rise residents on the ancient hedgerow between Ipswich Road and Eaton Rise in south-west Norwich was also viewed.

Chairman of the Friends of Norwich in Bloom, Terry Bane, said: 'It has been a challenging year for horticulture. Despite the hosepipe ban and poor weather conditions our partners produced about 80,000 summer bedding plants for projects that are just starting to look their best and will provide colourful displays until the first frosts in October.'

Last year Norwich won a Gold Standard and was announced as a 2012 Britain in Bloom finalist. The city was also chosen to launch this year's national campaign from the Assembly House, in February.

Are you involved in a project? Contact Joe Wilkes on 01603 772439 or email joe.wilkes@archant.co.uk