Several Edwinstowe in Bloom (EiB) volunteers have been out this month practicing the scything they learnt earlier in the year to clear the BT area. They have had a lot more crops from the vegetable plants at the allotment. This has meant that once again they have been able to send produce to the Food Hub.
This month they took delivery of a large quantity of bulbs, plug plants, and seeds, purchased from Boston Seeds and Naturescape, with funds donated by Edwinstowe Parish Council. Volunteers have been dodging the rain to plant them all round the village, in Paddock Close, the flowerbeds and the Churchyard. Half of the no dig patch on Linda’s Meadow has been uncovered and it was surprising how effective the membrane has been at suppressing the vegetation and improving the soil condition. The area was seeded with a wildflower mix, and native bulbs and some wildflower plugs were planted. Now all that is left is to wait for spring to see the results.
The scarecrow competition was judged in September. Thank you and well done to everyone involved. All the entries were of such a high standard that the judges had a hard time picking the winners of each category. The winners were Edwinstowe Beavers in the Junior Community Group and Mind Nottinghamshire were the Adult Community Group winners. The Village Xchange was the winner in the Shop Window category.
Edwinstowe in Bloom is truly about the community, volunteers and friendships made, alongside caring for nature and our environment. On Wednesday 25th September representatives from Edwinstowe in Bloom attended the East Midlands In Bloom awards presentation event. Volunteers and supporters found out the results the following day at the EiB AGM. EiB was not only awarded a Silver Gilt award – which is a step up from the silver received for the last two years – but was also awarded the Most Improved Entrant award from all of the East Midlands entries. Well done once again to everyone who played their part in achieving this. The committee cannot thank you enough.
They also received some individual awards and were delighted that the judges were impressed with the three different elements of Mel and Dave’s Garden on The Birklands, entered in the Best Residential Garden category. Their hard work earned them a well-deserved Silver Gilt award. Jess and Carl from Fables were entered in the Best Pub / Hotel Garden or Display category and wowed to be accredited with a well-deserved Gold award. RSPB Sherwood Forest, entered for the first time in the Best Retail category, also secured a Gold award.
Valerie and Margaret received the Judges Award for their entry. This is in recognition of all their fabulous work at St Mary’s Churchyard, developing projects involving the young people’s group. King Edwin Primary School won a Silver in the School category – moving up from the Bronze achieved last year. Congratulations to all of you.
EiB’s Photography Competition received lots of entries in July and August. The winner in July was ‘Bee Feeding’ by Vicky Latham and the August winner was ‘Birkland Woods’ by Lynne Taylor. These photographs, together with the winning entries for previous months, will be included in the 2025 Calendar produced at the end of the year.
They have now started the calendar for 2026. If you are an amateur photographer and over 16, please consider taking part and send your entries of photographs taken in the Edwinstowe area in jpg format to the email address below. Terms and conditions can be found on the EiB Facebook page.
For more information email eib@btinternet.com or find Edwinstowe In Bloom on Facebook.