Blossoming community group aims for success
DESPITE only forming at the end of March, a new community group is aiming for success at Britain In Bloom 2019.
Whitworth In Bloom, a volunteer-led organisation, hopes to start a movement to improve civic pride by imaginative planting, encouraging
recycling, and sustainable projects.
Other projects include cleaning up litter, graffiti and vandalism by combining groups that already work in the town into one project.
The committee of seven volunteers was created on March 31.
Judges from North West In Bloom visited Whitworth last month and the tour began on the northern entrance to the town, which has been planted up by volunteers and the 41st Whitworth Scouts, plus a new planted bike feature which marks the start of the cycleway.
Whitworth Town Council said residents at Barley View Care Home were ‘thrilled’ to show the judges their colourful displays in raised beds and baskets which ensures that they are accessible for people with restricted mobility.
The courtyard garden includes sustainable bird tables, a wishing well and raised planters made from upcycled pallets.
Town Council bosses said the bird tables, together with the wildflower planting, will help to support the natural habitat and also offer a sensory and calming feature for the dementia patients.
The herb garden at Barley View will provide home-grown sustainable kitchen ingredients, and the garden features upcycled and secondhand benches donated by the community.
Both young people and volunteers have been involved in creating the garden space.
Other Whitworth in Bloom achievements include the Spodden Valley Revealed project with local Girl Guides designing and planting a feature on Hall Street, a ‘bug hotel’ created by Whitworth Youth and work to improve the memorial gardens, bowling green and Riverside planters by the Horticultural Society.
Whitworth Town Council said the memorial garden is considered “the jewel in the crown” and the judges ‘seemed blown away’ by what the volunteers have achieved.
A spokesperson said: “The Friends of Whitworth Library group joined forces with Whitworth Men in Sheds to renovate the overgrown rockery outside Whitworth Library.
“This amazing transformation all happened from May 23 and was only possible thanks to generous donations of time, resources and plants to attract wildlife and make the library a nicer place to stay.”