Top tips to help make Wilmslow bloom

Judges April Advisory visit2

RHS judges were in town this week to offer advice to the volunteers behind Wilmslow's entry into the RHS Britain In Bloom competition.

Incredible Edible has teamed up with Wilmslow Business Group to enter the competition with an 'edibles' theme and they have been visiting businesses across the town to encourage as many as possible to get involved.

RHS Judge Brian Whalley and North West In Bloom Chairman Bill Blackledge, visited Wilmslow this week to meet the volunteers and offer tips on how to gain marks in the RHS Britain In Bloom competition.

Wilmslow will be competing against other like-sized towns across the North West where they will be marked on design, colour and presentation. Horticulture is only part of the picture though, as they will also be judged on issues such as recycling, litter, graffiti, signage and art in the landscape. Community participation is also an important factor.

Helen Yates, from Incredible Edible, said "Essentially it's about how small steps can make a big difference in improving our local environment and increasing our civic pride."

The team of volunteers have begun preparing for the competition by uniting local residents, businesses and town councillors.

Wilmslow Town Council has organised the Spring Clean for next week, which will involve litter picking, drain clearing and weeding paths, communal areas and building fronts. Whilst businesses across town will be dressing up their shop fronts with herbs, fruit and vegetables in baskets and planters.

There will also be the annual scarecrow festival, from Friday June 22nd until Sunday 8th July, and wooden sculptures are planned for around town. The first sculpture 'The Apple,' is now in place outside Wilmslow Station and plans are underway for 'The Pear' to be planted, hopefully before the Jubilee weekend.

Last year Incredible Edible volunteers took on some of the overgrown town centre plots and are in the process of replanting them with edible flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables ready for the summer.

Helen said "We really need more volunteers to join us now, so that we can go for this in a big way. Volunteers can either join in with the current plots, or if they have an unloved spot near them that they want to tackle, they could work with friends and neighbours to take control of the land around them."

A church, school, pub, a street or simply a couple of neighbours can choose to enter separately for an It's Your Neighbourhood Award.

Helen added, "Of course, it doesn't have to be edible but why not make it useful as well as beautiful? Not only are we improving the look and feel of the town but we are beginning to relearn those skills of how to feed ourselves on our doorsteps and have a lot of fun doing it."

The judging will take place in late June or early July when judges will be given a tour of the town. They will also meet the people involved and be shown a photograph display of all the things that went on behind the scenes leading up to the entry.

The Incredible Edible volunteers meet 2pm at Wilmslow library on the first Sunday of each month. For further information visit the Incredible Edible website.

Photo: Cllr Ellie Brooks (Wilmslow Town Council), Steve Kennedy (Wilmslow Business Group), Helen Yates (Incredible Edible), Bill Blackledge and Brian Whalley (RHS Britain In Bloom).

Tags:
Incredible Edible, North West in Bloom, Wilmslow Business Group, Wilmslow in Bloom
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