7th Dec Update (39) by Graham Price
Despite the poor conditions the 'all weather Kingsbridge in Bloom Team' continue to be out in force, looking after our sustainable planting around the town square and other locations around the estuary.
Our workload has recently been increased as a result of having to move a significant number of plants from our car park beds to allow access for the contractors who are rebuilding the quay wall. We will no doubt lose some of these through the winter but they have all been given a temporary home until March when we hope the new wall will be completed and the beds rebuilt.
We are keen to ensure that we are well prepared for the 2019 Britain in Bloom National Finals where the group have been nominated by the RHS to enter the Champion of Champions category. - No pressure then!
We are always keen to see new faces join our team. At this time of year we are out working on Wednesday mornings and there is no set time for how long members stay to help.
Our workload has recently been increased as a result of having to move a significant number of plants from our car park beds to allow access for the contractors who are rebuilding the quay wall. We will no doubt lose some of these through the winter but they have all been given a temporary home until March when we hope the new wall will be completed and the beds rebuilt.
We are keen to ensure that we are well prepared for the 2019 Britain in Bloom National Finals where the group have been nominated by the RHS to enter the Champion of Champions category. - No pressure then!
We are always keen to see new faces join our team. At this time of year we are out working on Wednesday mornings and there is no set time for how long members stay to help.
18th Oct Update (38) by Gill Matthews
Basket removal in Fore Street was completed. Many businesses have also removed their planters now as they are starting to look a bit tired. Summer planting was taken out in locations all over the town: the cascade by Peacocks, railing planters in Cookworthy Road and by Toad Hall Cottages, half barrels, the library planter, the cart and those in the car park by Mange Tout. The biggest wrench was emptying the wooden Embankment boxes which have performed so admirably and were still showing considerable colour. However it is best to quit while ahead rather than waiting for everything to look a complete mess. Despite some drizzle, conditions were good for getting the plants out with minimum problems. The Canna lilies have finished after putting on a fine show so were cut hard back. In some parts of the country these would need removal for over wintering. A rather unwelcome find in some of the planters were bottles, cans and takeaway coffee cups rammed into the soil. All these were located a couple of paces from a litter bin. A special treat at coffee break were some French biscuits brought back from a volunteer’s holiday. Merci bien! By the way our quiz is general knowledge so you don’t have to be a gardening guru or horticultural highflyer to come along on Monday 12th November at the Creeks End. Have fun and help us raise funds.
13th Oct Update (37) by Gill Matthews
A contingent of volunteers headed for Somerset at the beginning October for the SW in Bloom presentation so we took a rare week off. All the KIB delegates paid for themselves to attend this event which included lunch and a goodie bag. A £5 voucher for a local garden centre was included so a resourceful volunteer collected them up and during the lunch break a dash to the garden centre enabled the purchase of two blue-flowered Caryopsis plants which are destined for the bee-friendly beds and also some useful metal plant supports. After all the excitement of our gold award we were hard at work the following week catching up. Watering has finished and with wet, stormy weather predicted the baskets were removed before they got wetter, heavier and battered by the wind. Dead-heading, litter removal and weeding was undertaken on the Town Square and by Quay House. A band of volunteers in high vis jackets employed their Green Cross Code to get safely to the roundabout! The planters there were emptied with exception of the three trailing Rosemarys and the Canna lilies. Pelagoniums and Begonias will be over-wintered. Mixed bulbs were scattered and planted up all ready for Spring. A cheque was presented at the Globe pub in Frogmore so thank you to the hard working Frogmore Regatta committee for this very welcome donation. Have you noted the fun quiz on Monday 12th November at the Creeks End?
30th Sep Update (36) by Gill Matthews
A cool start developed into a lovely sunny day so jumpers and gilets were soon discarded. Grass on the Display bed was trimmed and weeds under the bench by the Taxi Rank were removed along with some totally avoidable litter. This unnecessary task can be rather dispiriting as there are always litter bins on the Town Square just a few paces away. Cigarette butts are particularly difficult to pick up, poisonous to wildlife as well as non-biodegradable as they contain plastic. The tall Rudbeckias, which have sported vibrant yellow flowers with dark brown centres, were cut right back as they are going over and beginning to flop. We’re grateful for a donation, from the owner of Busby and Fox, of some Hydrangeas: three mopheads and two Paniculata which were trimmed and planted. Mild weather and some rain will give them a good chance of getting well established. Previous gifts of two Acers have really enhanced the bed behind the TIC with glorious leaf colours. Planning and ordering for next year has been completed. Look out for a new summer colour scheme for baskets and planters as well as an exciting environmental theme on the Display Bed and around the Square in the photo frames.
15th Sep Update (35) by Gill Matthews
A small band of volunteers worked their way along the Embankment deadheading to extend the flowering season. Many displays are still looking good despite the Autumnal feel now with misty mornings and the days drawing in. Bees and other insects were buzzing round making the most of the range of flowers many of which have been specifically chosen for their attractiveness to wildlife. The baskets have been spectacular this year due to lots of sun and a rigourous watering schedule including lots of feeding. After all none of us feel very energetic if under-nourished and plants are just the same! Look out for a more unusual bulb coming through on the Hot Bed by the Creeks End. It is yellow-flowered Sternbergia Lutea also known as the ‘Winter Daffodil’ or the ‘Yellow Autumn Crocus’ although botanically neither a daffodil or a crocus. The colour scheme for next year and the theme for the Display Bed has now been chosen so watch this space! Thank you to everyone who signed up to our Monthly Draw at the Kingsbridge Show. This very useful regular source of income helps go ahead with our plans for next year.
7th Sep Update (34) by Gill Matthews
An illustrated presentation to the Loddiswell Over Sixties Club was well received. Expressions of appreciation for the Team’s work and the usual surprise at the range of our activities were expressed. Thank you to the club for their donation and purchases. Having received input from any Team member who has emailed it into the committee the planning for next year’s planting is well underway. Cooler weather and some rain has helped the meadow seeds, which really struggled in the prolonged dry spell, to revive. The knitted Mr Gardener character, a raffle prize at the Kingsbridge Show, was won by Marilyn Callard of Marlborough. Some hardy volunteers have been tackling the bindweed in the Berberis hedge by the roundabout at the bottom of West Alvington hill. The hedge is attractive to look at but not quite so attractive to plunge your hands into to remove that tricky entwining weed along with some brambles and the odd stinging nettle. A warm welcome to Maggie who joined us this week. We are always looking for new volunteers. No special knowledge is needed just the ability to work in a Team. Having received input from any Team member who has emailed it in the planning for next year’s planting is well underway. An important part of this is budgeting and fund-raising. Helping us on the way is a fun, general knowledge quiz at the Creeks End on Monday November 12th.
1st Sep Update (33) by Gill Matthews
The winners of the children’s sunflower competition gathered in the park for the presentation of their certificates. Maya Francis had grown the tallest sunflower. Reggie Dunstan had the plant with most heads and Heidi Francis had the largest flower head. Although watering has been a challenge the sunflowers really enjoyed the hot weather. Another recent presentation was to the winners in the Garden Competition. A most convivial social occasion at Quay House, with drinks and nibbles, was accompanied by much discussion of things horticultural. The overall winner was Sally Hunter for her superb allotment. Volunteers were assisting with car parking at the Kingsbridge Show again this year. A new venture was a stand in the Craft Tent, an opportunity to sell our merchandise, promote our monthly draw, recruit new members and chat to the public about our work. Appreciation was expressed by many people which is most encouraging for the Team. Fund raising goes on all year as well as gardening of course. A new venture is the Seamoor Lottery which now has a Kingsbridge in Bloom page where tickets can be bought online. Look on our website for a link.
27th Aug Update (32) by Gill Matthews
An innovation this year at the Frogmore Regatta was a craft tent where we had a stall. Craft items, our merchandise and some plants were on sale. Star of the stand was a knitted gardener figure adorned with flowers, seed packets in his pocket and carrying a watering can; all beautifully crafted. He was raffled off and went to a loving family you’ll be pleased to hear. Despite the gloomy weather the volunteers were dry and snug in the tent enjoying the friendly atmosphere while raising useful funds for the cause. Fund raising goes on all year round as well as gardening of course. The children’s sunflowers in the Recreation Ground are flowering their heads off having loved the sunshine. The judges examined them carefully and the winners in various categories for the sunflower growing competition will be announced shortly. The best job at the working party was deadheading the herbs in the Recreation Ground with wonderful scents wafting from the fragrant-leaved plants. Probably the worst job was doing battle yet again with the huge clump of grasses on the Quay Court Bed which are throwing their weight about. We are determined to show them who is boss and two more chunks were removed. General tidying and deadheading continued as did watering with a good dose of feed to sustain hungry plants and encourage an extension of the flowering season.
21st Aug Update (31) by Gill Matthews
Isn’t it amazing how after a bit of rain the weeds shoot up? Our eagle-eyed volunteers are hot on their trail of course. As well as weeding lots of deadheading, particularly the Rudbeckia, Cannas and Salvias, took place. A few over-enthusiastic plants had to be brought back under control. Liriope was removed as it was smothering nearby neighbours. A very large Kniphofia ( a yellow ‘Red Hot Poker’) came off the Egret Bed to be split into smaller portions. Tiger Grass and Vinca seemed to be completely knitted together in a tangle so after much battling to actually get through the membrane into the soil they were removed. A huge clump of grasses on the Quay Court Bed was also reduced at the expense of a considerable amount of physical effort. Despite the welcome rain we are still needing to water especially the baskets. Other locations for tidying and deadheading were the railing planters in Cookworthy Road, the roundabout, the Quay House Bed and railing planters opposite the Square. The Garden Competition awards were presented at an enjoyable social evening at Quay House. Sally Huntley was overall winner for her superb allotment. Thank you to the judge and organisers as well as all the entrants.
Large Garden: 1st Jennie Hayden, 2nd Sarah Low
Medium: 1st Jan and Frank Senft, 2nd Gill Matthews
Small: 1st Ruth Benton, 2nd Phyllis Turner
Commercial Harbour Bookshop (Jane Fincham)
Pub: King of Prussia (Tim and Sara Robertson)
Church St Edmunds (Duncan and Judy McDonald)
Rose Rambling Rector (Jennie Hayden)
Specimen Plant Honeysuckle (Peter Richardson)
Newcomer Sarah Low
Allotment 1st Sally Huntley
Highly Commended: Katherine Banfield and Nigel Moore, Maloclm Elliot,
Julia Curley and Charles Bacon, Francis Harrison
Large Garden: 1st Jennie Hayden, 2nd Sarah Low
Medium: 1st Jan and Frank Senft, 2nd Gill Matthews
Small: 1st Ruth Benton, 2nd Phyllis Turner
Commercial Harbour Bookshop (Jane Fincham)
Pub: King of Prussia (Tim and Sara Robertson)
Church St Edmunds (Duncan and Judy McDonald)
Rose Rambling Rector (Jennie Hayden)
Specimen Plant Honeysuckle (Peter Richardson)
Newcomer Sarah Low
Allotment 1st Sally Huntley
Highly Commended: Katherine Banfield and Nigel Moore, Maloclm Elliot,
Julia Curley and Charles Bacon, Francis Harrison
14th Aug Update by Gill Matthews
Phew, that’s the SW in Bloom and the Britain in Bloom National judging done and dusted! The all-important ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ projects as well as our lovely park have also been visited and appraised. Work goes on, of course, keeping everything looking good for visitors and local people. The rain has come as a real relief to hard pressed plants and waterers alike. What’s coming up? The committee will be carefully reading and collating all the comments and suggestions submitted by the Team. Then decisions will be made as to which will be funded and taken forward. We’ll be at the Frogmore Regatta on Sunday 19th August. We will also have a stand in the Craft Tent at the Kingsbridge Show on Saturday 1st September. Come and say hello to the volunteers and Jack Pot our mascot.
6th Aug Update by Gill Matthews
More frantic deadheading, trimming, strimming and tidying on the last major working party before the National Britain in Bloom judging last Monday. A younger volunteer climbed nimbly up the ladder to deadhead the baskets. It wasn’t just ‘working party Wednesday’ though as volunteers were out and about on every day of the week getting everything just right for the big day. This included weeding the gutters and pavements round the whole judging route, no mean task in this heat. Local businesses joined in with effort. Volunteers at the Lime Kiln were delighted that a young holidaymaker Kyle, staying with relatives in town, was not only eager to help but a most efficient extra pair of hands. Hard to believe but we’re already thinking about reviews for this year and considering ideas for next year. A brief discussion took place at coffee break but detailed input is coming in on email from the whole Team to the committee. The National judging went like clockwork. The judges were greeted by our prize-winning town crier who posed with the Team and the Mayor for a photoshoot on the Bandstand. The feature-packed town tour took about three hours ending at the Methodist Church for lunch and a viewing of an extensive display designed to showcase our year round activities. If you’d like to help please join our Monthly Draw which costs less than cup of coffee every month.
