Village in Bloom began in 2009 when a group led by Bridgett Mitchell worked together to tidy up the overgrown graveyard at St Mary the Less. The aim of the group was to make improvements to the churchyard and create a more respectful place. Monthly coffee mornings took place and this was a perfect opportunity for new members to join and speak to other residents about new ideas.
The Village in Bloom group are all volunteers that live in the village. There are no age barriers and everyone is welcomed. Village in Bloom is not just about the planting, it is also about interaction and socialising, not forgetting the coffee and biscuits!
Each week targeted areas are designated to undertake weeding, planting and tidying to their requirements. Previous projects have included clearing scrub land, levelling verges, removing plants from planters, tree pruning and felling ( with voluntary assistance from a professional tree surgeon).
Funding for work undertaken by the group has been supported by the Parish Council, Community Initiatives Sub Group and from sponsorship of various planters from small businesses in the area. We feel very fortunate to our local businesses for adopting specific areas within the village and maintaining these.
The Parish Council employ a village caretaker who undertakes most of the gardening requirements throughout the village such as grass cutting, strimming the overgrown paths, weed spraying and trimming over hanging hedges. The caretaker also assists with delivering the plants to the areas that are to be planted and assists us when required. We work with and support the Parish Council to assist and target where improvements are needed.
We have actively sought involvement from local schools and are particularly proud of our project to provide planters and seats for the elderly residents who live in the bungalows of Leeds Road .
The group have been successful in obtaining bird friendly hedging from the Woodlands Trust, which is the Diamond Jubilee hedge at Park Lane.
Several major projects have been undertaken in previous years including the improvements to areas where maintenance has long since stopped, in particular the Park Lane Train Tunnel, where the footpath had been obscured by unmaintained decaying and rotting trees. Due to parking on the verge on Park Lane and due to a lack of maintenance this had led to a damaged stock fence, tyre marked verges and a significantly overgrown hedge. We have also cleared and planted three beds at Staithes and the recycling area.
Residents who live near to various planters support us by undertaking watering the planters if able bodied to do this and this support is much appreciated.
If anyone would like to get involved please complete the contact us form with your details and a member of the Village in Bloom team will contact you to discuss this in more detail.