Tewkesbury in Bloom

The community are backing our efforts to tidy up the town centre and, in particular, have been helping us to remove weeds. We meet every Sunday at 10.00 am and small parties of volunteers are sprucing up areas enjoyed by our summer visitors.  Just a handful of volunteers are making a real difference.

If you'd like to help out, just turn up on any Sunday at 10.00 am.  We meet at Back of Avon. 
 

The regional judging date, when judges from  'Heart of England In Bloom headquarters visit us, is Monday 20 July.  We have also now received the regional judging date.

There are a total of seven entrants in the UK wide  'town category' and Tewkesbury's entry will be considered on Monday 3 August.Judges will start their tour at 9.15 am.  We are the first town to be visited, we are not sure if this is a good thing or not?  We'll let you know how we get on!

Needless to say our small committee is working hard behind the scenes putting together the judging route and creating two portfolio's documenting all the community work we have been undertaking throughout the year.  

We are pleased to announce the popular Open Day at Victoria Gardens is back in 2015.  On Sunday 21 June you are welcome to join Dawn Hunt and other local residents from 2 pm for tea on the lawns.There will also be traditional entertainment including live music too.

The gardens are an absolute credit to the town and are carefully looked after by a handful of local residents who meet every Thursday evening to look after the borders, plant the flower beds, weed and tidy up.

We look forward to seeing you on 21 June!

We regret to announce that a number of our town centre barrels have recently experienced a spate of vandalism. On Wednesday 29 April, one of our largest barrels located outside Savers chemist in the high street (next to the crossing) was set alight.

We are extremely grateful to Town Hall staff, Tony Beirne and Dave Bowers for their quick action in extinguishing the flames which prevented any serious damage or injury to members of the public. 

The tubs are still structurally sound and do not pose any health or safety risks to the public, but the damage has made them look rather unsightly.  One of the key areas for inspection by RHS judges is the quality and level of maintenance of street furniture and its possible we may get marked down.

Unfortunately we do not have any surplus funds to replace the damaged barrels this year, and annoyingly this particular tub and neighbouring ones were only just re-painted in time for summer bedding displays a few days before the incident by husband and wife volunteers, Pete and Chris Aldridge.  

John brings us up to date with the latest news as volunteers prepare the town for its the biggest horticultural challenge to date.

John writes  “Now that Tewkesbury-in- Bloom is in the RHS National Finals, we get invited to more things. In January Brian Reeve and myself trundled our way up to Sheffield for a winners seminar - a kind of Premier League warm up session! As we left Tewkesbury at 6.00 am on one of the coldest mornings of the year - I think we needed warming up! Finally after endless hold ups on the M1 particularly, we arrived at the rather posh venue. 

“Most of the other participants were old hands - one had even been Champion of Champions - a bit awe inspiring, its like being the manager of Reading meeting Sir Alex Ferguson.  We had a few seminars which were really useful. One on promoting ourselves, one of appropriate planting ( slightly over my head! ) and one on organising the judging day.    Actually this was an area we were definitely leaders of the pack, Brian's portfolio and DVD were enviously viewed and commented on, even by old Champions, if not yet the Champion of Champions! We came away quite reassured.we were on the right tracks. There are things we need to do  such as deepen our links with the community - schools especially. It is vital too that we find more sponsors and beg more effectively for help from our Local Authorities - our impression was that we had less support  in this area than most other leading Bloom groups.  Most vital of all we need  to ensure that our judging  days are spectacularly good.  We came away totally confident that with the help of the community of Tewkesbury we will put up a really good showing.   Roll on the summer!”

Picture below shows Marina Court, the starting point for RHS judges

Our chairman, John, and Brian Reeve made the trip today to Sheffield to join other entrants in the 2015 Britain in Bloom competition.  We will be competing in the 'Town' category against six other towns which are:  

Dalton with Newton (Cumbria)
Barnoldswick (North West)
Cupar (Scotland)
Falmouth (South West)
Pembrey & Bury (Wales) 
Henley Upon Thames (Thames & Chilterns)



As in previous years each entrant will be judged on three main criteria – horticultural achievement, community participation and environmental responsibility.

RHS judges will assess public spaces such as parks, city or town centres and communal gardens as well as natural spaces including wildflower meadows and conservation areas. Judges score finalists on a comprehensive range of factors from recycling and waste management or condition of street furniture, to how much young people are aware of, and engaged with, Britain in Bloom initiatives.

 

This is a picture of Victoria Pleasure Gardens under flood water.  This week we've had heavy rain which has led to river levels rising and localised flooding. This is not unusual for this time of year.

Many gardeners would despair seeing this damage, but Dawn Hunt and her very small army of gardening volunteers who carefully tender the gardens, will soon return this beautiful asset back to its former glory.  Its not easy of course.  Many plants do not like to have their roots constantly in wet, and the goodness in the soil is washed away.  

If you would like to find out more about this gem of a public park, you'll find more information on the website www.victoriapleasuregardens.org.uk. Don't forget to visit on Sunday 21 June for the annual open day - definitely not to be missed! 

(Image courtesy of Dave Freeman)

We're already putting in place plans for our 2015 'in bloom' campaign. The pressure is on this year as we have been promoted to the 'premiership division' and we are the only town in Gloucestershire to be in the finals of the national Britain in Bloom competition: 

• Chairman John Badham will accompany Brian Reeve to the RHS entrants' seminar being held at Sheffield in February. We are hoping to pick up some top tips from the judges; 
• This year's colour theme for our blooms is red,white and gold which will be reflected in our more formal high street floral displays.  As many of you will be aware red and white have an important local connection (representing the Houses of York and Lancaster in the War of The Roses). Gold has been chosen to illuminate and is of course the colour representing success (fingers crossed). We may also add a little blue to the combination to mark the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo;
• We have already received a judging date for the regional competition being 20 July.  The national judges will be descending on Tewkesbury in August,that date is yet to be announced. 

If you think Annual General Meetings are formal stuffy affairs, Tewkesbury in Bloom's AGM will be a breath of fresh air (we hope!).

Please do come along to The Bell Hotel (Church Street opposite The Abbey) on Wednesday 28 January at 7.30 pm where refreshments will be waiting for you and members of the committee will be offering a warm welcome.

Find out about our successes in 2014 and plans for 2015 as we enter the equivalent of the' premiership division' for green environments, enjoy the beautiful  visual presentation by Brian Reeves - he's a rather clever chap with his camera. We guarantee a jolly good evening all around among friends and those sharing a passion for improving our environment for community benefit.