Entente Florale Europe Explained

The Entente Florale Europe (pronounced as /fr/, "Flowery Alliance of Europe") is an international horticultural competition established to recognise municipalities and villages in Europe for excellence in horticultural displays. Trophies are presented annually by tourist boards and horticultural societies of European countries. There are three categories:

"Cities" (population over 30,000)
"Town" (population of 5,000–30,000)
"Village" (population of less than 5,000).^[1]

History

Entente Florale Europe is a competition for Towns and Villages. The competition name puns on the Entente Cordiale ("Friendly Understanding", 1904). Each participating country puts forward a representative Town and Village. The Town and Village are visited by the Jury and an assessment is made. The competition was founded in 1975, initially between Great Britain and France. At present there are eleven member countries and further applications are being processed.^[2]

In 1996, an international non profit association (AISBL) was founded under the name of Association Européenne pour le Fleurissement et le Paysage (European Association for Blooming and the Countryside), with the responsibility of the overall organisation of the competition and to obtain support from official bodies in the different countries. The AEFP is incorporated under the Belgian Law of 8 September 1997, and the Statutes were published in the Belgian Monitor on 8 September 1998. The amended articles, by Law of 2 May 2002 were published in the Belgian Monitor on 28 April 2006.

Since 1998 under the aegis of the 'Association Européenne pour le Fleurissement et le Paysage', the association and the competition Entente Florale Europe are open to all countries in the European Union as well as to the EFTA members countries (European Free Trade Association).

The competition has enjoyed the support of the International Association of Horticulture producers (AIPH) since its inception. In individual countries the competition is supported and organised by Ministries/Department of Agriculture, Tourism, as well as horticultural bodies and associations.

The President represents the association and is acting for 2 years. Each successive President shall be from a different country per alphabetic order.

Participation

Who can Enter ?

The competition is open to all countries in the EU and in the EFTA subject to approval by the board of AEFP. There are three categories, every member country can put forward 2 entries from two different categories.

Cities/Towns (population over 30,000)
Towns (population between 5,000 and 30,000)
Villages (population below 5,000)

How & When to Enter ?

Applications are made by the national organisation in charge of the competition.
New members are elected by the Board of Directors of the AEFP, by simple majority, at its twice yearly meetings (March & September).
Notification of entrants from existing members should reach the Secretariat before December 31 of the year prior to adjudication.

Organisation

Who organises the Competition?

Overall organisations is by the "Association Européenne du Fleurissement et du Paysage" (A.E.F.P.).AEFP is a non-profit organization, incorporated under Belgian Law(s). Each participant country has its own organisation and is entitled to membership on the Board of Directors of the AEFP. The competition has enjoyed the support of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) since its inception.In individual countries the competition is supported and organised by Ministries/Departments of Agriculture, Environment, Tourism as well as horticultural bodies and associations.

The Aim of the Competition

The overall aim of the competition is the improvement of the quality of life for local urban and village communities. To this end the competition fosters:

The greening of towns and villages
Flowers, shrubs, green spaces, parks
Development which is environmentally and ecologically sensitive
Educational and communication initiatives which promote environmental awareness.

Advantages of Joining

You will

Enhance the reputation of your town, village, country
Facilitate contacts of a tourist, cultural nature
Improve the appearance and fabric of your towns and villages
Foster community spirit and enhance the quality of life
Enable citizens to assume ownership of their local environment

Jury members in 2015

Austria (AT)

Martin Wagner, Horticultural engineer; Vice-chair of the jury
Johanna Renat, Spatial planner

Belgium (BE)

Rudi Geerardyn, Landscape architect & Town planner; Chair of the jury

Czech Republic (CZ)

Inka Truxova, Landscape architect
Petr Šiřina, Landscape architect
Jaroslav Brzak, Landscape architect

Germany (DE)

Dr. Rüdiger Kirsten, Landscape architect & Town planner; Vice-chair of the jury
Hildegunde Franziska Henrich, Landscape architect & Town planner

Hungary (HU)

Dr. Andrea Bocsi, Tourism expert & Economist
Dr. Ildikó Réka Báthoryné Nagy, Landscape architect
Szilvia Halász Spanyárné, Landscape architect

Ireland (IE)

Eamonn De Stafort, Tourism consultant
Dr. Christy Boylan, Horticulturist & Landscape architect

Italy (IT)

Anna Furlani Pedoja, Landscape architect
Jacopo Fontaneto, Agriculture and Green Journalist, Tourism consultant
Mauro Paradisi, Municipal urban designer

Netherlands (NL)

Nico Anthony Brink Landscape architect
Marjolijn Ruijs, Landscape contractor

Slovenia (SI)

Anton Schlaus, Architect & Consultant for energy efficient building
Martina Schlaus, Architect & Conservator for Cultural Heritage

United Kingdom (UK)

Peter Holman, Horticultural & Greenspace Consultant
David Littlewood, Horticulturist
Mark Wasilewski, Park Management

Previous winners

Source:^[3]

Note re UK representatives - ^[4]

Villages

Year	Austria	Belgium	Croatia	Czech Republic	France	Germany	Hungary	Ireland	Italy	Netherlands	Slovenia	United Kingdom
2022	Bad Sauerbrunn Gold		-	Dobrochov Gold	-	Bollstedt Silver	Veresegyház Silver Székesfehérvár Gold	Keadue Gold	-	style="text-align:center;" Nederlands	-	style="text-align:center;" Slovenia	-	-
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017	St Anton am Arlberg Gold	-	-	Kostelní Lhota Silver	-	-	Tihany Gold	Glaslough Gold Abbeyleix Silver	Pomaretto Silver Faedo Silver	-	-	-
2016	-	-	-	Hrušky Silver	-	-	Dunakiliti Silver	Straffan Silver	-	Ootmarsum Silver	Šmarješke Toplice Silver	-
2015	-	-	-	Modrá Silver	-	Wieden Silver	Balatongyörök Gold	Kilrush Gold	La Magdeleine Bronze	Beesel Silver	Radlje ob Dravi Silver	-
2014	Haus Gold	-	Nin Silver	Cehnice Gold	-	Sommerach Gold	Zebegény Silver	Dromod Silver	Usseaux Silver	Zuidlaren Gold	Velika Polana Gold	Bournemouth Gold
2013	Söll Silver	-	-	Dolní Břežany Silver	-	Kirchbach Silver	Csopak Silver	Clonegal Gold	Etroubles Gold	Bergeijk Gold	Podčetrtek Gold	-
2012	Gamlitz Gold	-	-	Drmoul	-	Dötlingen	Lövő	Abbeyshrule	Sordevolo	Dwingeloo	Cerklje	-
2011	Rennweg am Katschberg Gold	-	-	Smrzice Silver	-	Wiesenburg Silver	Paloznak Silver	Clonegal Gold	Transacqua Silver	Elburg Silver	-	-
2010	Reichenau an der Rax Silver	Ittre Silver	Sveti Martin na Muri Silver	Studenec^[9] Silver	Guyencourt-Saulcourt Gold	Banzkow Silver	Lipót Gold	Emly Silver	Stresa Silver	Helenaveen (Deurne) Silver	Šentjernej Silver	St. Brelade Gold
2009	Mooskirchen Gold	Gouvy Silver	Molve Silver	Mořice Silver + special award	-	Rieth Silver	Gelse Silver + special award	Clonakilty Gold	Pré-Saint-Didier Gold	Sluis Silver	Olimje Gold	Forres Gold
2008	Hanfthal Silver	Zwevegem Gold	Novi Vinodolski Silver	Tvarožná Lhota Silver	Aubigny-sur-Nère^[10] Silver	Rehinghausen Silver	Tápiógyörgye Silver	Tallanstown Gold	Bergolo Silver	Beek/Ubbergen Bronze	Medana Bronze	Garstang Gold
2007	Donnersbach Gold	Flohimont Bronze	Primošten Gold	Zálší Bronze	Gelaucourt Silver	Gersbach Gold	Noszvaj Bronze	Birdhill Gold	Limone Piemonte Gold	Haren Bronze + Lucia Cikes award	Smlednik Silver + special award	Falkland, Fife Gold
2006	Virgen Gold	Sohier Silver	Skradinski Buk Bronze	Svojsin Bronze	Eguisheim Gold	Brokeloh Gold	Orfű Bronze	Aughrim Gold	Cella Monte Silver	Wijhe Silver	Križeča vas Silver	Usk Silver
2005	Hornsburg Gold	Villers-la-Ville Bronze	Brela Bronze	Písečná Gold	Oger Gold	Bertsdorf-Hörnitz Gold	Ruzsa Bronze	Glenties Silver	-	Oosterbeek Gold	Radenci Bronze	St. Ives ^[11] Carbis Bay Gold
2004					Cayriech Gold	Nußdorf am Inn Gold					Šentjernej Silver	Darley Gold
2003					Bormes-les-Mimosas Gold	Neuenweg Silver					Zreče Silver
2002	Antau	Omal/Geer		Telecí	Yvoire Silver	Päse Gold	Gyederlak	Stradbally		Ommen	Kostanjevica na Krki Silver	Thorpe Salvin
2001					Saint-Hilaire-les-Places Gold	Obercunnersdorf Gold		Leighlinbridge Gold		Dreischor Gold	Spodnja Idrija Silver
2000					Saint-Aubin^[12] Silver	Immenstaad-Kippenhausen Silver		Clonakilty Gold		Sint-Oedenrode Gold	Podčetrtek Silver
1999					Juvigné Gold	Schweickershausen Silver		Clonakilty Gold
1998					Rougegoutte Silver	Bruchhausen Gold					Žiče Bronze
1997					Forest-l'Abbaye Bronze	Horsdorf Gold
1996					La Vraie-Croix Gold	Rambach Silver		Skerries Gold
1995						Veldenz Certificate of Excellence
1994						Bürchau Certificate of Excellence						Broughshane
1991												Saintfield
1990												Forres
1989												Market Bosworth
1988												St Florence
1987												Sorn
1986												Moira
1985												Sampford Courtenay
1984												Lympstone
1983												Lund
1982												Pateley Bridge
1981												Killingworth
1980												Warrington
1979												Holywell
1978												Pateley Bridge^{Note 1}; Sidmouth; Aberdyfi
1977												Falmouth Wolviston
1976												Colwyn Bay Leven
1975												Clovelly & Edzell

Notes

Note 1 - in some cases the overall winner from the UK is not named in "Britain in Bloom" by Graham Ashworth as an Entente Florale Representative (namely Bath in 1975 and Pateley Bridge in 1978).

Note 2 - Luxembourg competed between years 1980 - 1988.

Note 3 - Switzerland competed between years 1984 - 1986.

Note 4 - Portugal competed in year 1991 and between years 1994 - 2000.

Note 5 - Canada competed between years 1992 - 1993.

External links

Links of participating nations homepages

Notes and References

http://www.entente-florale.eu/participation Entente Florale Europe official site - Participation
Web site: History of AEFP and Entente Florale Europe. 3 June 2022.
Web site: History EFE. 29 November 2017.
The names of UK representatives from 1975 to 1991 are taken from Britain in Bloom by Graham Ashworth (Graham Ashworth CBE, Britain in Bloom, page 90, The Tidy Britain Group (Wigan:1991)). Please note that Pateley Bridge in 1978 and Bath in 1975 won the competition yet are not listed by Ashworth as representatives.
Web site: Download CZ-Kyjov-Web.pdf. 24 May 2012. dead. https://archive.today/20130123090123/http://www.findthatfile.com/search-29632434-hPDF/download-documents-cz-kyjov-web.pdf.htm. 23 January 2013.
Web site: premi per il verde. 26 November 2013. italian.
Web site: Sankt Veit an der Glan. 26 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20110820191040/http://www.sv.or.at/stveit/info_englisch/Geschichte.php. 20 August 2011. dead.
Web site: St. Ives Gardens. 28 November 2013.
Web site: CZ_Studenec_pdf. 23 May 2012.
Web site: Aubigny sur Nère, le pays des Ecossais ! . 28 November 2013 . french . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203012635/http://www.cnvvf.fr/6565-parcs_et_jardins_aubigny_sur_nere-47.html . 3 December 2013 .
Web site: About St Ives . 28 May 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120917021105/http://www.stivesholidays.com/gardens.htm . 17 September 2012 .
Web site: Nos jardiniers ont du talent !. 30 May 2012.