How we work with the community and our traders
Kingsbridge in Bloom's main objective is to incrementally improve the town’s environmental surroundings. This is an all year round activity for the sole benefit and pleasure of the community and its visitors. July is the culmination of our efforts as we are judged by the Royal Horticultural Society for the “South West in Bloom” competition.
You may not know that ‘Kingsbridge in Bloom’ (KIB) is an umbrella under which lots of different organisations come together for the benefit of the town. You have probably seen the ladies and gents in blue around the town, usually on a Wednesday morning, planting, weeding, deadheading, picking up litter (and worse!) and generally doing all the usual tasks we all do as gardeners. They can be seen on other days too, on occasions maybe painting some seats or maintaining the planters or flagpole, maintenance work generally, or watering (very important to keep it all watered), pretty much anything required to keep our town looking good.
It’s not only these people however. Many of the traders in Fore Street and other street locations either have their own floral display or join with a growing number who order baskets, tubs or planters via the scheme operated by KIB. This works by orders being taken early in the year for summer planters that are then planted and delivered/hung ready to go, during May. In this way we can encourage a ‘town colour scheme’ which gives a bit of continuity. All the individuals have to do is to water regularly and dead head occasionally. We even give you a ‘how to’ leaflet’. Have a look around town to see how well it works.
Other organisations involved include the Kingsbridge garden club who look after the planters in the Quay car park, and The Estuary Boat Club and the WI both have planted boats that they maintain. The Community Garden is a fantastic facility, an oasis at the top of the town, well worth a visit. You can pick your own fruit and vegetables at this time of year.
Even this isn’t the end of the story. There are other areas around town called ‘It's Your Neighbourhood’ (IYN) projects. This is where a group of neighbours or friends agree to take on a particular piece of ground and look after it. These areas have been one of the most successful examples of the town folk coming together for the good of the community. Examples of an IYN would be the Railway Arch opposite the hospital, the garden at the bottom of Church Street, and the Lime Kiln in Quay car park, though these are only three of the thirteen IYN’s this year. KIB gives a small donation to help get you started but after that it is hoped that the project is funded by the group involved. You don’t have to be a plants person to get involved, we’re all amateurs. Do you look out onto a piece of communal ground that’s looking a bit neglected that you and some neighbours might like to take on? We can help get you started.
If you’d like to be involved in any way at all, maybe the Wednesday working parties or be part of the watering brigade (using a motorised bowser), then please contact us via the links in the "Help Us" menu above. Many hands make light work as they say.
You may not know that ‘Kingsbridge in Bloom’ (KIB) is an umbrella under which lots of different organisations come together for the benefit of the town. You have probably seen the ladies and gents in blue around the town, usually on a Wednesday morning, planting, weeding, deadheading, picking up litter (and worse!) and generally doing all the usual tasks we all do as gardeners. They can be seen on other days too, on occasions maybe painting some seats or maintaining the planters or flagpole, maintenance work generally, or watering (very important to keep it all watered), pretty much anything required to keep our town looking good.
It’s not only these people however. Many of the traders in Fore Street and other street locations either have their own floral display or join with a growing number who order baskets, tubs or planters via the scheme operated by KIB. This works by orders being taken early in the year for summer planters that are then planted and delivered/hung ready to go, during May. In this way we can encourage a ‘town colour scheme’ which gives a bit of continuity. All the individuals have to do is to water regularly and dead head occasionally. We even give you a ‘how to’ leaflet’. Have a look around town to see how well it works.
Other organisations involved include the Kingsbridge garden club who look after the planters in the Quay car park, and The Estuary Boat Club and the WI both have planted boats that they maintain. The Community Garden is a fantastic facility, an oasis at the top of the town, well worth a visit. You can pick your own fruit and vegetables at this time of year.
Even this isn’t the end of the story. There are other areas around town called ‘It's Your Neighbourhood’ (IYN) projects. This is where a group of neighbours or friends agree to take on a particular piece of ground and look after it. These areas have been one of the most successful examples of the town folk coming together for the good of the community. Examples of an IYN would be the Railway Arch opposite the hospital, the garden at the bottom of Church Street, and the Lime Kiln in Quay car park, though these are only three of the thirteen IYN’s this year. KIB gives a small donation to help get you started but after that it is hoped that the project is funded by the group involved. You don’t have to be a plants person to get involved, we’re all amateurs. Do you look out onto a piece of communal ground that’s looking a bit neglected that you and some neighbours might like to take on? We can help get you started.
If you’d like to be involved in any way at all, maybe the Wednesday working parties or be part of the watering brigade (using a motorised bowser), then please contact us via the links in the "Help Us" menu above. Many hands make light work as they say.
