Blundeston in Bloom
 
A group of individuals, headed by Graham Wade (Chairman of the Parish Council) has decided to make preparations to enter Blundeston Village into the annual Anglia in bloom competition. At the inaugural meeting in the village hall in December it was decided to start preparations straightaway with bulb planting in various areas of the village and to begin recording tha activities in a Portfolio. Useful advice was received from Oulton Broad who enter the contest every year. On their advice all were agreed that 2011 was too soon to enter and that we should target the competition in 2012.

A second meeting was held inthe village hall on 20 January at which thirteen people attended including Paul and Christine Ashdown from Oulton Broad. Graham Wade was formally elected Chairman of 'Blundeston in Bloom, Alison Shelton was elected Secretary and John Nichols treasurer. Graham Wade reported that he had obtained over a thousand bulbs and with the help of Brian and Alison Shelton these had been planted in strategic postions around the village. A rural and part Dickensian theme has been chosen for the Village so ideas and equipment, particularly old farm impements and an old boat are needed.

In the meantime for any offers of help and/or equipment please contact either Graham Wade (Tel: 01502 735957) or Alison Shelton (Tel: 01502 730985)

Blundeston in Bloom has now been entered into the Anglia in Bloom competition for 2012. Judging will take place on Friday 6 July. Progress on the project over the past winter and spring in prepartaion for the judging is detailed in the 'Portfolio' which has been prepared, as required, for the judges. The view thee Portfolio click here.

The article below was produced for the Lowestoft Journal June 2012.

A small band of enthusiasts led by Graham Wade and Alison Shelton have been busy during the winter and spring months preparing the village for a summer floral extravaganza. They have been constructing planters from recycled pallets and crates, rearing plants and planning the displays around various strategic points in the village. For this Jubilee and Olympic year there is inevitably a twin theme. Displays around the Village Hall area will feature the Diamond Jubilee whilst around the Village sign there is the unmistakable mark of the Olympic theme. Here recycled tractor tyres have been used to symbolise the Olympic rings, each one will be a solid mass of the appropriate colour. The project is not just about floral displays; it does encompass the natural environment as a whole. In that context some areas of the village have been identified as wild areas to encourage insect friendly plants and they are in the process of being cleared. The wildflower meadow on the Millennium Green has had over a thousand wild flower ?plugs? of twenty varieties added which we hope will make a big difference to that area in 2013.


Judging for the ?Anglia in Bloom? competition will be on Friday 6 July when the panel will spend an hour and a quarter looking round the village. Chairman of the organising group, Graham Wade said that ?this is our first year of entering the competition and we are just hoping to make an impression. We know that we will not be awarded a gold star but we are hoping that our efforts will serve as a benchmark for the future. We will take on board what we are sure will be positive and helpful comments and encouragement from the judges and move forward to 2013. We are hoping that we can inspire and motivate more people to get involved, take more responsibility for their environment, and make the village an even better place to live?.


Over the past year the group has been extremely grateful to a number of sponsors and fundraisers. Without their generous support this project could not have moved forward.


Fundraising for 2013 will begin again on the weekend of Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 July when we will again host our ?Open Gardens? on the afternoon of each day.