With judging set for Tuesday 1st July by the RHS judges, this is a busy time for Gainsborough in Bloom (GIB) and its volunteers.
Shoppers and visitors to the town centre will have seen the summer bedding has now been added to the 17 planters, and four of these are now sited in Flag Alley giving a pleasing display. Railing baskets have also been added in the Roseway and North Street areas which add further colour to enjoy. Fortunately, the rain has come at the right time to help the plants establish and grow but they will need watering and maintenance as the summer progresses.
GIB is currently working on the corner of North Street, which was formerly the Pocket Park site. As this has been closed for some time, it had become overgrown. The team litter-picked this site in early June and plan to tidy the area up prior to judging day with the help of The Conservation Volunteers. Thank-you to the owner for allowing them access to this key area of the town to help GIB efforts.
GIB has several planters strategically placed around the town which could bear advertising for local businesses. The annual cost for sponsoring a planter is only £180 and includes both summer and winter planting. As a self-funding volunteer organisation, they need to raise funds to pay for the plants and insurances etc and this is a key part of their financing. They are grateful to current sponsors Browns, Horsleys and Cliff Bradley Funeral Services. If you would like to sponsor a planter, please get in touch through their Facebook page or website.
The GIB ask everyone to help make the town look its best for the judging on 1st July. Maybe you could litter pick around your neighbourhood and keep it tidy? If you spot any ‘grot-spots’ please let them know through the GIB Facebook page or website and they will try to tackle the problem. Everybody can play a part.
The judges results and comments will be announced in September at an event organised by East Midlands In Bloom. Watch this space!
However, the work GIB does carries on after judging and throughout the year. The town centre area is already looking more vibrant and busier following the investment project which has been ongoing for the last year related to the levelling up funding sourced via West Lindsey District Council.