This month has brought a mix of weather, with very little rain until the end of the month, so Edwinstowe in Bloom (EiB) volunteers were frequently out with the bowser. Once again, a large quantity of produce was collected and donated to the Food Hub in Edwinstowe. A decision has been made to commemorate the group’s founder, Linda, by erecting a bench in her memory, with stepping stones leading to it on Linda’s Meadow. The chosen bench is a bespoke design built by Soren Iospescu, crafted from seasoned timber logs, and will blend beautifully with the surroundings. A £2,000 grant towards the cost has been secured from the Harworth Group, and a further £500 will be allocated from Community Lottery winnings. Additional fundraising events will be held to cover the remaining costs.
In Bloomers Carol, Jo and Graham collected awards at the East Midlands in Bloom Awards at Grimsby Town Hall on Wednesday 24th September, before a community celebration at Edwinstowe Community Cricket Club on Sunday 28th September. The group was delighted to once again receive a Silver Gilt Award in the Friends of East Midlands in Bloom Small Town category, finishing runner-up overall. The Judges’ Award praised the entire Edwinstowe in Bloom team, particularly the allotment volunteers, for their ‘crop drop’ initiative providing locally grown produce to the Food Hub.
There was great excitement when Tina Shirt was announced as the Gold Award winner for Best Front Garden – and even more so when she was revealed as the overall winner out of 24 gardens across the whole of the East Midlands. Alison Fletcher received the School Category Silver Award on behalf of King Edwin Primary School, Edwinstowe. The Judges’ Award recognised the work of Alison and Jodie, who inspire pupils through their dedication to the gardening club and the school’s eco ethos.
Fables Coffee House received a Gold Award for the second consecutive year in the Best Retail / Commercial category, finishing runner-up overall, while The Lansbury Restaurant and Bar were proud to gain a Silver Gilt Award in the Best Pub / Hotel category in their first year of entry.
In the photography competition, the winning image for September was Blue September Sky in Sherwood Forest by Rachel Lerway. This will be the final photograph featured in the 2026 calendar. Entries are now open for the 2027 calendar, starting with the November 2025 competition. Photographs can feature anything of interest taken in the Edwinstowe area – not just flowers or landscapes, but also events, animals or anything that captures the spirit of the village.
Amateur photographers aged 16 and over are encouraged to take part. Entries should be sent each month by midnight on the last day of the month in .jpg format to the email address below, along with a title and the location where the photograph was taken.
For more information, email eib@btinternet.com or search ‘Edwinstowe in Bloom’ on Facebook.