Welcome to Brightlingsea in Bloom

BRIGHTLINGSEA IN BLOOM

A Community Project, by the Community, for the Community
2005

10 YEARS ON – HOW TIME FLIES!

We first got going in 1995 with sceptics forecasting, “It won’t last.” “You’ll never raise enough money.” .”You won’t get support.” “There’ll be vandalism.”

Thankfully, none of this has come to pass. Why?

· We have been blessed with an ever-growing team of wonderful, kind-hearted, dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers who have seen how much our townsfolk have appreciated the fruits of their work.

· We are ever grateful for the wonderful on-going generosity from businesses, residents, councils and voluntary organisations without whose financial support we would most definitely not be blooming! Our list of major sponsors includes:

Allen Installations Ltd
Brett Aggregates Ltd
Brightlingsea Town Council
Colchester & East Essex Co-operative Society Ltd
Hampstead Homes
Tendring District Council

· Over the years the In-Bloom concept has embraced all sections of our community, young and old. Most importantly it has given a tremendous feeling of civic pride where everyone has played a part. This has helped reduce the problem of litter and made people less tolerant of others’ bad habits so it’s quite common now to see folk pick up litter that others have dropped. Our own zero tolerance of the effects of vandalism means that the small amount of damage we do suffer from time to time is put right immediately, leading to fewer instances of repeat offences.

WHAT’S HAPPENED IN THAT 10 YEARS?

Hand in hand with our annual efforts at having the town blooming better and better it has been our aim, with a number of partnerships, to bring about many long-term environmental improvements:

· 1997/1998 – the start of a 5-year plan to upgrade Promenade Way and the approach to the Waterside. This has included an ‘in memoriam’ tree planting scheme and, in 1999/2000 the creation of the Mirror Millennium Garden, an attractive amenity garden. This was a Brightlingsea Town Council/ Brightlingsea in Bloom/ Brightlingsea Business Association partnership.

· Gandergoose Green (between the Co-op and the doctors’ surgery) - the creation of a commemorative garden on a previously bare tarmacked area.

· The community centre – now has ‘gardens’, not just ‘grounds’. This is an on-going project.

WHAT ABOUT COMPETITIONS?

Frankly, and without false modesty, the town’s done blooming well. We first entered Anglia in Bloom in 1996. Now look at the list:

Anglia in Bloom

Best Small Town 1996-2002 (exempt 1999)

Premier Award Winners 1999 and 2003

(Changed criteria by the RHS then moved us from ‘Small Town’ to ‘Town’.)

Best Town 2003 and 2004

Britain in Bloom

(nominated by Anglia in Bloom to represent the region in the national competition)

Small Town Category
National Finalist 1998
3^rd Place 2001
RHS Silver Gilt Medal 2002

Town Category
RHS Silver Medal 2003

2004: barred! (entered by Anglia in Bloom for 3 years in succession)

RHS National Flowerbed Competition (see below)

RHS Silver Medal 2003 and 2004

Our own local In Bloom competitions

These give us special pleasure. We were pleased to present a total of 97 certificates and trophies at our Awards Evening in September 2004, a real celebration of our community working together. Congratulations to all winners!

Categories, judged for spring and summer displays

Best large garden, best small garden

                        Best gravel garden
                        Best frontage (little or no garden)
                        Best container display
                        Best large street, best small street

Best overall

Best kept allotment
Most environmentally friendly allotment

There are also categories for pubs, retail, industrial, businesses, and voluntary organisations. Prizes include compost bins, seed vouchers, certificates and trophies.

New for 2005 will be a BEST NEIGHBOURHOOD AWARD, an opportunity to for neighbours to get together with each other in their in their road, close etc and make a difference to their neighbourhood.

SPRINGMEAD GARDEN

May 2004 saw the culmination of two years’ work when Springmead Garden was officially opened to the public. This had been a major garden restoration project, funded by the East of England Development Agency and the Countryside Agency and matched in effort by dedicated volunteers, local craftspeople and contractors, with the invaluable help of Essex Probationary Service.

Captain Arthur Wenlock had bequeathed Springmead house and garden to the people of Brightlingsea in 1927. Although the house had been put to use the garden had lain neglected and derelict until 2003 when work started to transform it into a quiet and tranquil oasis for all to enjoy.

The garden lies in a sheltered dell with a natural spring-fed stream running through the heart of it. In fact as one of the few original sources of water for the town the spring may justly be described as the birthplace of Brightlingsea

Wander across the boardwalk and view the bog garden which has been created around the spring, pond and stream. A large sunny border offers a pot pourri of delightful fragrances, bark paths meander around the upper shady area and seats around the lawn give lovely views of the garden.

The stream feeds the dykes of the ancient grazing marsh on the town’s national nature reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The development of the garden is on-going and it will take a number of years to mature.

BRIGHTLINGSEA’S OFFICIAL NATURE TRAIL

A partnership between English Nature, Brightlingsea in Bloom and Brightlingsea Town Council was formed in recent years to create an official nature trail along the old railway line. The explanatory notes in a specially produced leaflet helps walkers, birdwatchers etc appreciate all aspects of the fauna and flora of the Colne estuary and the SSSI mentioned above.

THE IN-BLOOM TEAM IS ALWAYS UP FOR A CHALLENGE!

In both 2003 and 2004 the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) invited Brightlingsea in Bloom to participate in the prestigious National Flower Bed Competition held at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show in Cheshire. On a minuscule budget and paying their own expenses Bloomers travelled north to take on the big boys from parks and gardens departments of city, metropolitan and district councils. The aim was to help boost tourism for the town and put Brightlingsea florally on the map as well worth a visit.

In both years we came back with an RHS Silver Medal!

FINALLY

10 years on we’re still here, keen as ever, and because of all the wonderful support we receive, well into the planning and preparation for another blooming Brightlingsea season.

Thanks again to everyone.

WANT TO HELP?

Give Val Gilders a call on 01206 302563