Its been a loooong time since I last posted on TalkSwindon, I have since moved to Marlborough, following work and then made that town my home, but I remain a Swindonian and I still think a lot of the town.... I haven't felt it appropriate to comment about what goes on as I don't live there anymore. But what I do know is that there remains a lot of unsung horticulturalist in the town that could do with some free recognition.
I don't know if anyone would be interested.... it's a long post but stick with me.
I was talking to a senior committee member of the Royal Horticultural Society (he was judging Marlborough for Britain in Bloom). He knew of my history with Swindon's open spaces and wanted to know why Swindon, with its rich history of parks and volunteering hadn't entered any areas entered and didn't seem at all interested.
We mulled the question of council funds etc.... That RHS in Bloom competitions are okay in rural settings, but that where they really want to be is in the cities and towns spreading the word about gardening. Its very much where they want to be.
I reminded him that there are still many deserving projects and sites in the town.
He felt that Wiltshire as a whole was a very successful county for gardening and horticulture, but that Swindon being the major population centre was woefully under represented in the in Bloom campaign.
So the question is this... with the Town council barely able to reach an adequate standard.... would the gardeners of Swindon like to be involved? Bypassing the council's apathy and being involved on a project by project basis.
The RHS who now run Britain in Bloom have a neighbourhood category. It costs nothing to enter and is supported by RHS funds.
All that is required is....
A horticultural project.
This does not need to be big or flash.
Dedicated to a neighbourhood or small area
Brings the community together
Has community input and volunteers.
There are already some I know about that fit the bill perfectly
Penhill Orchard
Secret garden queens park
Twigs
Sevenfields Conservation
Parks rangers Volunteers
To name a few, I know there's more than this.
Take a look at the Web page
https://www.rhs.org.uk/…/camp…/it-s-your-neighbourhood/about
Would anyone involved in a suitable project be interested in being entered as part of Britain in Bloom?
All that is required is that someone is available to meet a RHS judge at their project sometime in July (probably next year now), with an A4 sheet outlining the project.
You can make an event of it. Have lots of community there ( maybe get a RHS top award), but it can be just one person if that's all that can be there.
I am more than happy to talk to anyone or group interested and to act as Swindon's coordinator.
Could it be any easier to get national recognition?
