Stonehouse in Bloom is stepping out onto the national stage as
finalists in this summer’s RHS Britain in Bloom competition.
The aims of Stonehouse in Bloom are to encourage the local community to improve and care for their local environment using the themes of Horticulture, Environment & Community.
The volunteer-led group, which is supported by Stonehouse Town Council and numerous community organisations and town businesses, welcomed the regional judge to the town last week and will be welcoming the national judges on Tuesday, July 26th.
Stonehouse is no stranger to winning, having won Gold in the ‘Heart of England in Bloom’ competition for the past five years and Best Small Town in 2018 and 2019. This year, Stonehouse will be one of only two places representing the Heart of England region in the national ‘RHS Britain in Bloom’ finals.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is the UK’s leading gardening charity. They aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place – they are committed to inspiring everyone to grow.
Chair of Stonehouse in Bloom Pam Swain said: “The group are very excited and proud to be selected to take part in Britain in Bloom. It’s a testament to, and culmination of all of the hard work and community support we’ve received over the past 8 years.”
Those nominated in the ‘Britain in Bloom Small Town Category’ are:
Stonehouse in Bloom – Gloucestershire, Croston in Bloom – Lancashire, Petworth in Bloom – West Sussex, Kingsbridge in Bloom – Devon, Randalstown – Ulster, Hale Village – London.
Britain in Bloom judges are visiting each of the finalists over the coming weeks, with the winners of each category announced at an awards ceremony in the autumn.
Some of the SIB projects for 2022 are:
• Queen‘s Platinum Jubilee Crown flower bed and themed planting
• New perennial border at the entrance to the main High Street car park
• New boat planter in Stonehouse High Street completes the flotilla of three (Iris, Rose & Ivy)
• The Station Master’s Garden has been rebuilt using a grant from Community Rail – it is now an oak-sleeper raised bed.
The idea is to have mixed veg and flowers growing there and invite people to help themselves
• Reinstate Stonehouse Park Infants School’s Peace Garden
• Two wildflower areas created and seeded in Laburnum Park
• Helping Stonehouse Community Arboretum with ongoing tree planting. Also helping to water new trees
(50 litres a week each in the summer) until they are established
• Planted 700+ daffodil bulbs throughout the town in 2020/2021 – planting more in 2022
Stonehouse in Bloom welcomes new members. So, if you want to get involved to improve your town, get active, meet people or you just enjoy gardening, then please contact Deborah Curtis at deborah.curtis647580@gmail.com.
