WHITCHURCH in Bloom is hoping for a silver, to better last year’s bronze, in the small-town category of this year's Britain in Bloom awards.
Volunteers did a trial ‘walk the route’ on Tuesday, June 28 ahead of the judging on Friday, July 8.
Judging will take place over two hours where a judge will walk around the town and see what the community have done and are working towards.
The group, organised by Caroline Wells, uses its Facebook page to encourage the community to volunteer and get gardening.
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Although stuck at home with COVID, Caroline has still been leading the charge in planting and tidying up in Whitchurch. She said: “We’ve been putting up lots of hanging baskets and planters, we’ve been sweeping the roads and pavements, we’ve done a few projects where we have completely cleared out some overgrown flowerbeds and replanted them so it’s pretty much a work in progress.
“It’s pretty much a work in progress which the judges like to see. They like to see that everything isn’t necessarily amazing but that there’s projects you’re working towards. For example, we want to adopt Whitchurch train station but that will be for next year.”
Groups across Whitchurch have come together to get behind the Britain in Bloom effort, including the local scouts, conservationists and walking group.
Caroline added: “There’s lots of different groups who have come together to make Whitchurch a more pleasant place.
“The local co-op has been absolutely amazing, they gave us £150 as a community project award. And the staff came out with us for one day and we were weeding the pavements outside the co-op. So, they worked with us for a couple of hours, everybody on their hands and knees weeding and cleaning. They are now doing a raffle where they have really good prizes from Bombay Sapphire and lots of the local businesses to raise more money.”
This year the UK’s biggest gardening competition has new criteria to promote sustainable gardening. The changes reflect the Royal Horticultural Societies' (RHS) current campaign ‘Planet Friendly Gardening’.
The new eco-friendly criteria includes prioritising pollinator-friendly plants, maintaining wildlife habitats, eliminating the use of peat, reducing use of water mains and tackling environmental issues through planting.
RHS Community Development Manager, Kay Clark said: “The update is in line with what many community gardeners tell us they are already seeking to do to bring about positive change. It will by no means limit the horticulture on show, instead we’re likely to see even more creative and ambitious displays that demonstrate the power of plants.”
To meet the criteria, the conservationist group in Whitchurch have been planting wild flower meadows whilst the rest of the town have been using pots made of recycled materials.
In an effort to impress the judges, an after-school club has taken over part of the community garden to grow their own veg.
Whitchurch in bloom have their sights set on silver in the small-town category as they make their final finishing touches, ahead of judging on Friday, July 8.
To find out more the RHS organised Britain in Bloom contest visit rhs.org.uk/get-involved/britain-in-bloom
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