We’re Growing Wild Again: Aquavista in Bloom celebrates its fourth year with a renewed focus on biodiversity.
Aquavista’s 33 inland and coastal marinas are Growing Wild once again as the much‑loved Aquavista in Bloom competition returns for its fourth year. Teams and customers across the network are preparing to transform their marinas into vibrant, nature‑rich spaces bursting with colour – and buzzing with life.
This year’s challenge continues to champion biodiverse, pollinator‑friendly environments, encouraging every marina to create displays that not only look beautiful but actively support the wildlife that calls our waterside locations home. From wildflower borders to bee‑friendly planters, the initiative celebrates the role marinas can play as pockets of thriving biodiversity.
This year’s challenge continues to champion biodiverse, pollinator‑friendly environments, encouraging every marina to create displays that not only look beautiful but actively support the wildlife that calls our waterside locations home. From wildflower borders to bee‑friendly planters, the initiative celebrates the role marinas can play as pockets of thriving biodiversity.
Haven Knox‑Johnston have come on board as the official sponsor for Aquavista in Bloom 2026. As part of the launch kits, they have provided lavender seeds and handmade bee‑watering bowls to every marina – practical tools designed to nurture pollinators and build on last year’s success in creating habitats for bees, butterflies and other vital species.
There are four award categories for 2026, with regional winners across the North, South and Midlands, plus one overall national winner:
- Outstanding Overall Site – North, South & Midlands
- Outstanding Tubs and Hanging Baskets -North, South & Midlands
- Outstanding Creative Display – North, South & Midlands
- Community Engagement Award – North, South & Midlands
Many of this year’s displays will be grown from seeds carefully collected and stored by marina teams over the autumn and winter – a testament to the long‑term commitment to sustainable gardening and biodiversity.
Last year’s regional winners included Poplar Waterside & Marina in the South, Kings Bromley in the Midlands, and Kings in the North. For the first time, Aquavista will formally recognise the marinas that go above and beyond to bring their communities together through gardening and environmental stewardship with the Community Engagement Award.
Deborah Hunt, Sales & Marketing Director at Aquavista, said: “Aquavista in Bloom marks a special moment in our calendar – the return of the boating season and a chance for our marina communities to come together. It’s when our crew teams and customers unite to transform our spaces into vibrant, living landscapes. Our marinas are havens for both people and wildlife, so continuing to protect and enhance biodiversity is something we’re proud to champion together. We’ve seen marina teams really embrace this challenge, forming gardening groups and creating spaces that support pollinators and local ecosystems. The new community engagement award recognises the incredible effort that goes into this.”
Haven Knox‑Johnston are supporting Aquavista in Bloom for the first time this year.
Paul Knox-Johnston, Sales & Marketing Manager at Haven Knox-Johnston, said: “We’re delighted to support this fantastic campaign in its fourth year. Helping to make the marine community an ever-better place is a key part of our ethos, and we hope our launch kits will build on the success of last year’s bug hotels and keep the focus firmly on biodiversity. We can’t wait to see how each marina gets creative to develop their bee-friendly spaces and hope this continues to inspire both moorers and the wider community.”
The competition launched on 23 April, with award submissions due by 31 June. Winners will be announced at a celebration event in July.
