The Stonehouse in Bloom team are stepping out onto the national stage in the finals of 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, will be welcoming the regional judges to the town on July 14th and the National Judges on 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 is very excited and proud to be selected to take part in Britain in Bloom. It’s a testament to, and the culmination of all of the hard work and community support we’ve received over the past 5 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 will visit each of the finalists in the summer with the winners of each category announced at an awards ceremony in the autumn.
Some of the SIB projects for 2022 are:
• New perennial border at the entrance to the main High Street car park – completed. • New boat planter in Stonehouse High Street completes the flotilla of three (Iris, Rose & Ivy) – completed. • 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 – ongoing.
• Made and installed five bee houses, the first initiative, in aiming to be a ‘Bee Friendly Town’ – ongoing. • Two wildflower areas created and seeded in Laburnum Park – completed.
• 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 – ongoing.
• Planted 700+ daffodil bulbs throughout the town in 2020 and 2021. Planting more in 2022 – ongoing.
Stonehouse in Bloom welcomes new members. So, if you want to get involved to improve your town, get active, meet people or just enjoy gardening, then please contact Deborah Curtis at deborah. curtis647580@gmail.com