Tewkesbury in Bloom

We invited the Brownies to help us to do some gardening in town last week. One group went to Victoria Gardens to tidy, sweep and water plants and a second group helped us to plant at the 1471 flower bed.  

Red and white dianthus flowers were planted new to the new rose bed to represent the Houses of York and Lancaster during the War of the Roses.  The girls enjoyed the impromptu history lesson too! 
 
After an hour of gardening in the heat, it was time for a well earned rest and ice lollies!

Volunteers at Tewkesbury Nature Reserve held a very successful open day.  It was also an opportunity to officially open a brand new bridge linking Stonehills side of the reserve with Wheatpieces. 



There was plenty on offer from activities ranging from willow weaving, pond dipping, plus a bat walk and it was a great way for the community to learn about the local wildlife right on their doorstep.

As part of our commitment to offering educational opportunities to our youngest members of the community, during half term over 25 youngsters aged 5 to 15 enjoyed a free workshop run by Jackie Dean of Flowers of Fun.

The youngsters picked up basic floristry skills and had the opportunity to get creative with flowers. Each child made a flower cone which is an age old tradition for children to place flowers on the doorstep of friends or neighbours on May Day.  

We have recently received confirmation from the Heart of England judging panel that Tewkesbury's 'Town' entry will be judged by Roger Bache and Mark Wiltshire on the morning of Wednesday 6th July.

We are really thrilled this year by the number of pubs & hotels who are entering the Britain in Bloom competition separately and also for the very first time we have some IYN entries (This is In Your Neighbourhood gardening groups).

It looks like we will be keeping the judges very busy and they may have to stay in town for the whole day! 

Volunteers have planted a drift of tulips at the 1471 flowerbed located at the entrance of Lower Lode Lane.  It is hoped the 350 pink bulbs will help to raise funds for Cancer Research and highlight the importance of staying safe in the sun.
  

If you spend long periods outside like many of the In Bloom gardening volunteers or have fair skin that freckles or burns easily, it’s important to protect yourself with appropriate clothing such as a hat and rub in sun cream to exposed areas of skin.

If you would like to make a financial donation to Cancer Research it can be dropped off to Bookworm Bookshop, High Street, Tewkesbury.  

Last year a brand new business set up in Tewkesbury, Fun with Flowers. This is the brainchild of Jackie Dean. Jackie's idea is to introduce children and young people to gardening themed activities with a particular emphasis on fun as well as offering educational opportunities to learn horticultural skills.Jackie recently dropped into the Boys Brigade head quarters and helped the youngest members (The Anchors) create wonderful flower bouquet arrangements just in time for mother's day. 

We are indebted to Nick and Dan of E-Coco Products UK for their generosity in donating loads of packets of seed to support our 2016 entry.  We have a great selection of high quality seeds from marigolds, stock, dianthus to nasturtium.

Over the next couple of weeks we are hoping to plant these with local community groups with the help of Brian at Cornerways Nursery who has fantastic facilities to help us grow on the seedlings.

We are really excited to watch the seeds germinate so we can plant them out just in time for the RHS judges' visit. 

Residents at Hanover Court just love getting together in their community garden.  Contractors do the main jobs such as hedge pruning and grass cutting while residents plant annual bedding plants, care for a small herb garden, deadhead and look after the visiting wildlife. 

Its a real social affair, during fair weather the residents enjoy tea on the lawn and the occasional BBQ.

Neighbours Trevor, Mags, Sheila, Val, Carrie and Eileen plant and maintain the annual bedding plants including pelargoniums, dahlias, and sunflowers as well as looking after the shrubs.  Bird baths and a handmade bird house encourage the local wildlife into the garden.

The wooden garden furniture was looking tired so a trio of residents Maurice and Pat Wilby and Wendy Ellis got together to paint it. 

We think the bench (pictured) is the same shade as the recently re-painted Ham footbridge, and wonder if the residents were influenced by it in their choice of colour?  Wendy says it was a complete co-incidence, it just so happens on the same day as the bridge was being painted by volunteers she had picked up a paint pot in nearly the exact colour!  

Members of the Tewkesbury Drop In Group are thoroughly enjoying the gardening challenges we set them.  This month they have been involved in winter planting.  The four large barrels in Nelson Street have been planted up with bulbs, primroses & pansies.

This should make the town look colourful and bring some cheer during the colder months. 

John and Marion travelled to Sunderland yesterday along with longstanding volunteers, Pete and Chris Aldridge to receive an award from the RHS Judges.

After a nail biting wait, John has brought home a Silver Gilt award for the town.  Quite impressive for our very first entry at this level.  It was clear that in our category [town] the other entrants were very experienced and are very well organised with plenty of resources at their disposal. 



The category winner, Falmouth was the clearly winner with its award winning beaches,favourable climate, and its well maintained gardens and public parks - a very hard act to follow! 

We were offered a de-briefing session with our judges and there is plenty of food for thought and opportunities for improvement in 2016.