How to contact Thornbury in Bloom

For more information visit www.thornburyinbloom.co.uk or www.facebook.com/thornburyinbloom

To join the committee, please contact .

To enter your home/shop in the Thornbury in Bloom competition, please collect an entry form from Thornbury Garden Shop or T & J Owens Florist during the Spring.

If you'd like to receive the Thornbury In Bloom newsletter by email, send your email address to:

Click here to read the current newsletter.

Latest News

A Treemendous Future!

A number of groups in Thornbury have added to the tree population of Thornbury!

Earlier this month on a bitterly cold morning a number of volunteers, including work experience pupils from Castle School joined the South Gloucestershire Tree Officer to plant 9 trees.

The planting team was organised by Judith Hurford, who heads a group of volunteers in Thornbury called the Tree Strategy Group, which has been recognised by Britain in Bloom for its contribution to the towns green heritage.

Judith is also the Thornbury Tree Warden a voluntary role which liaises with various groups to help improve the tree coverage in the town.

By the end of the day 9 trees were planted. The trees were donated by various groups in the town; three by the Town Council, three by Thornbury in Bloom and one each by the Hackett Lane residents, the Rotary Group and one by private donation.

Most of the trees were planted along Morton Way, near the entrance to Osprey Park and one was planted near St Paul’s Church in the Hackett.

This tree planting activity builds on over five years of tree planting activity by the Tree Strategy Group and the trees they have planted can be seen in many locations across the town!

The photo shows Judith Hurford, organiser of the Thornbury Tree Strategy Team and Guy Rawlinson, Chair of the Town Council Environment Committee and Chair of Thornbury in Bloom.

Guy Rawlinson Becomes New Thornbury in Bloom Chair

At the Thornbury in Bloom AGM I had the honour of being elected as the committee Chair. I am proud to represent such an important group in Thornbury.

As a town we have achieved such a great deal, winning both regional and national Britain in Bloom competitions and this year winning gold in the Champion of Champions, the highest level attainable in the Britain in Bloom competition.

This was only possible because we had the support of so many active groups in the town. To mention them all in this letter would take rather a lot of space, so on this occasion I would personally like to thank the outgoing Chair, Sue Aitken, ably supported by Tony. Sue has been Chair for five years and in this time we have achieved so much due to her commitment, putting in so many hours in support of the cause and the town. She has often been seen watering troughs and baskets late into the evening!

Having been on the committee for four years I have witnessed her drive and enthusiasm at first hand and it is this that has helped Thornbury to ‘punch above its weight’ as a town. I am pleased that Sue will remain on the committee as she is surely a very tough act to follow but I will no doubt draw heavily on her experience and listen to her advice in the coming year.

Guy Rawlinson
Chair, Thornbury in Bloom

Sue Hands Over To Guy

For those who were unable to join us at the AGM last Friday you will be pleased to know that Guy Rawlinson was duly elected as our new Chairman. Those of you that know Guy will know that he is a Town Councillor leading the Environment Committee, he is a member of Daggs Alottments and the Tree Strategy Group - so has excellent credentials!

I am sure you will all welcome and support Guy in the year to come. We were also pleased to welcome Guy's partner Andrea to the team and also Ed Cole who has been a keen supporter for the last few years. There is still an opportunity for anyone else who would like to become part of the team - so don't be shy.

Guy will be setting himself a new In Bloom E-mail but in the meantime you can contact him direct if you already have his details or use this address and I will forward your message.

It has been a tremendous priviledge and pleasure to be your Chairman for the last five years and rest assured I shall support Guy and the on-going cause in the future. Thanks also to Sue Trowell and Robert Gorham who have worked so hard in recent years but have stood down from the team.

With best wishes,
Sue

Chairman's Report - 2012: a year of celebration

That was what we had on the front of our Judges' Portfolio. Of course it should have been a year of strange weather and celebration.

We started the year worrying about hosepipe bans and whether or not we would be able to water our displays or sustain our new trees and then from April onwards we were worried that everything would be washed out!

However the sun shone on the righteous and for the 10 days before the judges arrived the rain stopped and the sun shone so that everything looked wonderful on Monday 30th July. On Tuesday 31st it started raining again!

We have achieved so much this year:

• We have planted literally thousands of spring flowering bulbs.
• We donated a fruit tree to every school in Thornbury to commemorate the Jubilee. The Tree strategy group has overseen the planting of 5 more substantial trees to add to the 12 planted over the last couple of years.
• We have put up bug boxes and bird nesting boxes in the wildflower meadow.
• We have replaced the boat at the top of Grovesend Road that sadly collapsed with age and we now have a permanent feature that is environmentally sound and has its own flagpole with our flag.
• We have had new areas of meadow mix and wild flowers to support our declining insect population and that look so good on the road sides.
• We increased our summer floral displays with the barrier rail baskets on Rock Street and the two big new containers on the Tesco bank.
• We invested, [with the help of a grant from South Glos], in new self watering containers that have enhanced the display on the pump and are now planted up for autumn and winter.
• We have been supported by so many community groups and we thank and congratulate them all. In particular our Neighbourhood Award entries, Christ The King Prayer Garden, The Community Garden at Turnberries, The Park Road Community Garden and the Tree stategy Group.

We would not be able to function without the help of many other groups and to name but a few thanks go to Daggs Allotment Association, Thornbury Community Composters, The Lions Club, Rotary, Thornbury Museum and this year special thanks are due to Thornbury Art Club who donated us proceeds of their annual exhibition.

We must also thank Thornbury Town Council and South Gloucestershire council without whom we could not operate.

We thank local business sponsors and all the many private individuals who have donated their time or cash or both. No matter how large or small the contribution every single part goes together to make the whole which is Thornbury In Bloom.

It is very hard for most people to appreciate just how successful our town has been over the last few years. To enter the nationals was an honour enough but to go from first time entry in 2009 to Champion of Champions in 2012 is an outstanding achievement. When you think how few towns, cities or villages actually enter the nationals at all it puts our town at the top of the very best places to live and work.

I have had the pleasure and privilege to Chair this amazing organisation over the last 5 years and I have made so many friends and met so many people because of it. I thank every single one of you for your personal support that you have given me. I truly believe that the In Bloom movement is one of the most positive and uplifting organisations that you could wish to support. It touches so many people in so many ways.

I am sure that your new chairman will carry on the good traditions that we have developed over the last 21 years and I urge everyone to give their support to ensure that our town looks as beautiful again next year as it has done this year and that the many friendships forged continue to grow and develop for the benefit of our whole community.

Gold!

Thornbury has been awarded a GOLD medal in the Champion of Champions class, which is an excellent result.

Gold medals are hard to come by, and out of the other five entries from the South West there was only one other Gold.

However, more EXCELLENT news is that THE COMMUNITY COMPOSTING SITE won a RHS Discretionary award for the best Environmental project. Well done to Les Strong and his team!

Visit the RHS web site for a full report.

Well done and thank-you to everyone who has helped, contributed or been involved in any way. Every little thing counts!

Sue and the team!

Click here for a list of all our local winners.

Congratulations to you all!

Next year we need even more entries so don't be shy, look out for the entry forms which are available between May and July and have some fun, join in and make our town even more beautiful!

Huge Congratulations too for the excellent results obtained by our four It's Your Neighbourhood Entries. These awards were presented by the South West In Bloom judges in Weston Super Mare on Thursday.

Christ The King Prayer Garden, The Community Garden at Turnberries and The Tree Strategy Group all won the top award of Outstanding.

Our new first time entry of The Park Road Community Garden [just by The Scout Hut] had a fantastic result obtaining the award of Developing. Awards start at Establishing then are Improving, Developing, Thriving and Outstanding.

For more infomation see the RHS web site www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Community-gardening/It-s-Your-Neighbourhood

We need some more entries in this group - so if you are interested get thinking and get in touch!

Thank-you to everyone who has supported the In Bloom Campaign during the year.

Sue and the team!

Sponsor a Thornbury Tree

One of the most important parts of the In Bloom competition is long term planting, and over the last few years several people have funded a tree in Thornbury as either a memorial for loved ones or as a business or society sponsorship.

The cost of a tree can be between £200 and £350 depending on the size of the tree and the variety.

If you, as an individual or as a representative of a business or community group, would like to discuss sponsoring a tree please get in touch with Judith Hurford our Tree Warden on 01454 414074 or .

About Thornbury in Bloom

We all enjoy the floral displays that brighten up Thornbury each Summer. Imaginative floral creations welcome us as we enter the town, and hanging baskets and tubs create colourful splashes throughout the town centre.

For this we have to thank the Thornbury in Bloom Committee - a group of volunteers who raise money each year to fund the displays, and work hard to plant up the various containers.

Their efforts make Thornbury an attractive place for locals and visitors.

Thornbury's green-fingered experts are closely involved; many of the hanging baskets and business decorations are supplied by Tytherington Road Nursery, Jean Owen from J&T Owen florists decorates the Parish Pump as well as other containers throughout Thornbury, and Sue Aitken from Thornbury Garden Shop fills upturned putchers - these used to be used for catching fish on the River Severn and provide a visual link with Thornbury's heritage.

You'll find the putchers around Rock Street, the allotments and at Thornbury Garden Shop.

It's not just those of us who live locally who appreciate the effort and skill that goes into creating the floral displays. The Thornbury in Bloom committee enters the Britain in Bloom competition, and regularly wins awards.

Prizes are awarded locally to businesses: pubs, shops and even industrial units take part.

There are also local prizes for private gardens, and everyone is encouraged to take part. There are certificates and garden vouchers to be won!

Each Spring the Thornbury in Bloom committee holds a Thornbury in Bloom Day, with plant stalls and collections, culminating with an evening event, which in the past has involved presentations by Chelsea Gold Medal winners such as Jekka McVicar and Leyhill Prison.

Thornbury Town Council

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