Community prepares for first "Bloom" tour since pandemic

Green-fingered gardeners of all ages from Newcastle-under-Lyme are gearing up to meet experts from the country’s largest horticultural campaign for the first time since the pandemic.

Residents, community groups, children and Council staff are putting the finishing touches to their wonderful gardening projects ahead of a borough-wide tour by Heart of England in Bloom judges.

The special visitors are touring gardens, parks and initiatives on Wednesday, 13 July as part of the borough’s long-standing entry in the regional competition’s small city category.

Newcastle is hoping to impress yet again after scooping a gold award for the 19th  consecutive year in 2021 following a digital-based entry.

The tour begins at the award winning Brampton Park and will highlight the Council’s redevelopment of Brampton Museum, and a project to improve the wildlife pond, as well as voluntary work by Brampton Recruitment who have also sponsored the new green wall scheme in Newcastle town centre. Youngsters from Giggles & Wiggles nursery will show off their planting prowess in the sensory garden ahead of visits to the beautiful rose garden and commemorative sculptures and tree carvings.

The Council’s landscape officer will present the new leaf garden at Bradwell Crematorium and explain its layout and design. After viewing the monthly petal garden, the next stop is Golf Links Walks, on the A34, which has been planted with 12 cherry trees by members of Newcastle Rotary Club.

There is lots to see in Silverdale. Cllr. Henryk Adamczuk, chair of Silverdale Parish Council, will present the refurbished mining memorial and talk about the parish council’s bid for a mining memorial grant as well as the local scout group’s involvement in planting the sponsored flower bed. Andrew Hunt, ranger of Silverdale Country Park, will show the bio-diversity elements of the park and talk about new projects including dry stone walls and hedge laying.

Next on the list is the Lisbon Place retirement complex which is managed by Amanda Stevenson. Amanda, accompanied by residents, will show off their “Greening Grey Britain” community garden. At this point, the judges will view a selection of this year’s winning entries in the Council’s Britain in Bloom children’s painting competition and a video capturing community events that take place throughout the year.

Dr. Sally Aldridge and Paul Hackney, from the Friends of Lyme Brook, will then present their environmental project “Love Your River” which involves the re-introduction of brown trout and the scything of the wild flower meadow at Lyme Valley Parkway.

The journey into Newcastle town centre – the final section of the tour route – showcases the various “flora and fauna” sculptures on roundabouts, including a hare, buzzard, bee on a dandelion and trout, which have been made by apprentices as part of a sustainable landscaping project.

The judges will view the Grosvenor Gardens area which has undergone a major transformation with sustainable, Mediterranean planting in addition to new tile artwork to all five adjoining subways celebrating the borough’s 30 successful years in Britain in Bloom. They will then look at a colourful flower bed, by St. Giles’ Church, which features a bespoke sign created by local potter and sponsor Black Star Ceramics to celebrate Newcastle in Bloom’s 30th anniversary, followed by sustainable planting in the bed by the Roebuck Shopping Centre.

Last, but by no means least, is the stunning Queen’s Gardens. The patriotic summer planting display – featuring begonias, salvias and cinnararias – has a red, white and blue theme to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The award winning venue is home to an “Eco- Eye” project, sponsored by Bayfields Opticians, which has been made by schoolchildren using eco-bricks. The judges will learn more about the Fred Kite memorial and the Queen Victoria statue from local historian Jim Worgan before being treated to a “Happy and Glorious” parade, including a performance of “Seven Trees for Seven Decades”, by members of New Vic Borderlines.

Other stops include Keele Cemetery and the Wammy in Knutton.

Cllr. Jill Waring, Cabinet member for leisure, culture and heritage, said: “It feels great to welcome the Heart of England in Bloom judges back after all this time. Even though the pandemic changed our lives for so long, it certainly hasn’t dampened our enthusiasm for gardening – we’ve got so many fantastic projects to show them.

“Newcastle-under-Lyme has an excellent reputation in Britain in Bloom but has enjoyed phenomenal success in recent years, culminating in the area being declared one of the best competitors in the country which is amazing.

“Britain in Bloom is far more than just flowers. It brings all sections of the community together to make the borough a better place to live, shop and visit. I hope everyone enjoys the tour and I wish them the best of luck.”

Newcastle-under-Lyme first entered Britain in Bloom as a small city in 1991. In 2018 it was named the overall winner of Heart of England in Bloom for the third consecutive year and in 2017 secured gold and category winner in the national finals. The borough also competed in the national Champion of Champions category in 2018, achieving a gold award, the highest accolade in the campaign.

The latest results will be announced at an awards ceremony in Sutton Coldfield on 15 September.