Monthly Press Release/Newsletter

April 2010 – Issue 5

April has been a particularly busy month for our volunteers, beginning with a visit to Trinity Primary School where we met some of the children who belong to the school’s Gardening Club, the Deputy Head and one of the Teaching Assistants. The school is quite new and the grounds have tremendous potential. There are raised beds, cordoned fruit trees against a fence, a pond and even chickens! However, the beds were rather overgrown and required some heavy digging. That’s where our volunteers came in! Portishead in Bloom is committed to supporting our schools in any way we can to encourage young people’s interest in horticulture.

April 6 - Some Friends of Portishead in Bloom carried out planting in Woodhill Road with a selection of grasses, hebes etc. (30 in total). One of the neighbours gave the volunteers a welcome cup of tea as a mark of appreciation and agreed to take care of the bed. This will be entered in the “It’s Your Neighbourhood” category for the ‘In Bloom’ competition.

April 11 - WESTHILL HEATHER BEDS – SUPERB RESPONSE!!

Following a huge publicity drive we had a fantastic response to the request for volunteers to help with the mass planting of 700 heathers at Westhill Triangle. Thirty five people gave up their Sunday morning to help. Having delivered leaflets to the nearby houses explaining what was happening to the grassed area, many residents turned up to give assistance and some have promised to keep an eye on the new beds. Our thanks must go to the Officers of North Somerset Council, the contractors who prepared the beds ready for planting, local businesses who displayed posters, the newspapers, local publications and all the volunteers.

April 12 – Members of Harbourside Women’s Institute, ( a newly formed WI on Portishead’s Village Quarter) turned up on a very windy Monday morning to plant winter flowering and fragrant shrubs at the Brampton Way/ High Street bed . Again, this will be taken care of by the group and will be another “It’s your Neighbourhood” entry.

April 22 – We are always happy to be involved with school projects and two members of Portishead in Bloom were invited to Portishead Primary School to see what exciting plans they have in store this year for their school gardens. Children from all Key Stages will be involved in one way or another. What is so encouraging is that some parents have volunteered to assist with the school’s horticultural activities. Portishead in Bloom will continue to offer support where needed. We are hoping that HOMEBASE will continue to sponsor the school’s gardening activities as they have done in the past.

**********************************

Sponsor a Basket Scheme

This scheme appears to be really ‘taking off’! We have had such a good response so far thanks to local press giving us much needed publicity. People have given a variety of reasons for sponsoring baskets and we are so grateful for their support. It is an ongoing fundraising activity and anyone can sponsor one of our hanging baskets at any time. Just contact Sandy Tebbutt on 01275 843566 or email www.sandytebbutt@hotmail.com. Many of our local businesses have already contributed and you may notice the ‘We support Portishead in Bloom’ logos in some shop windows as well as bright red collecting tins on shop counters. A huge ‘thank you’ for their support, and long may it continue!

v It is always pleasing to receive praise from the public, and our Spring displays seem to have impressed not only residents but visitors too.

*********************************

AND FINALLY

What is “It’s Your Neighbourhood Awards” ?

It is a non-competitive competition, designed to give help and recognition to community groups. A neighbourhood is a group which is hands on and involved in community gardening to benefit the community and led by volunteers. It should benefit the local area and show evidence of planning ahead and environmental responsibility – which includes care for wildlife, reduction of litter, wildlife friendly plants and a sense of local heritage. In other words, good gardening practices which enhance the locality, good plant choices, and maintenance of neglected areas within the community.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES

v SPRING GARDENS AWARDS – It is not too late to submit your garden or recommend someone else’s for Portishead in Bloom’s SPRING GARDEN AWARDS

v Saturday 22 May PLANT SALE outside ICELAND

v Saturday/Sunday 12/13 June – OPEN GARDENS

Don’t forget to log on to our website for additional information about our activities……………….www.portisheadinbloom.org.uk