Let's get Blooming!

Britain in Bloom - Limpsfield has again entered for 'Britain in Bloom'. Having won 'Gold' in 2008, we have a real challenge on our hands - to go one better so as to become 'Champion' in our large village class. We need all the help and support we can muster.

Theme - The theme for the year, honouring the Memorial Stores' 10 successful years in village ownership, is CELEBRATION. The colours chosen to reflect this are gold, silver, bronze, red and orange.

GoldSilverBronzeRedOrange

 

Residents, so far as possible, to use these colours in their gardens, tubs and window boxes. On the church bank, we will be displaying a 'celebratory carpet bed' depicting bells, designed by Sue Bradshaw-Smith.

Projects for 2009

The judges last year recommended that we go on doing the things we did well then, but do them even better. The judges will be looking for evidence of:

  1. horticultural achievement,
  2. environmental responsibility and
  3. community participation.

We will be working on each of these.

Specific projects include:

  1. Even better displays, gardens and containers in the village
  2. Further work on improving access to and the environment of the River Eden.
  3. At Limpsfield Infants School, thanks to Mark Richards, National Trust Warden, the erection of a raised bed and planters for the children to grow vegetables.
  4. Further conservation work in the churchyard to encourage wild flowers and wildlife.
  5. Residents of both Padbrook and Stanhopes continue to improve their planting and maintenance and will be included in the judges' visits.

Maintenance Days.
9.45am on Saturdays and 2.00pm on Wednesdays.

  1. Saturday 25th April - River Eden
  2. Wednesday 13th May - opposite Sylvan Close.
  3. Saturday 30th May - the corner of Bluehouse Lane.
  4. Wednesday 10th June - outside The Bull.
  5. Saturday 27th June - corner of Detillens Lane.
  6. Wednesday 8th July and following days. General village clear up, ready for judging on Thursday 16th July.
  7. Monday 13th July
  8. Tuesday 14th July
  9. Wednesday 15th July

Please do come and help if you can.

Day of Judgement

Thursday 16th July.

Specialist Support and sponsorship

Knights (Nags Hall) Garden Centres are again arranging for 10% discount cards for those buying plants connected with Limpsfield in Bloom. Stephen Mills (Tel: 713116) will collect the names of those interested in this.

French Street Nursery (off the road from Westerham to Crockham Hill) is under new management and has a splendid range of plants on offer. They are extremely helpful and a good source of advice. We are sourcing many of our plant needs from them this year.

National Trust - Mark Richards and his band of volunteers will be spending a further day improving the grassy area between the A25 and the High Street. The land is owned by the Trust and it's great to have its support. He has already spent two days, assisted by 'Community Payback' teams, cutting back the overhanging laurels by Pebble Hill House and clearing the path to the school.

Geoff Tozer, supportive as always and a regular volunteer, has helped cut back the hedge backing on to the Tennis Club.

Could you help us by sponsoring (or part-sponsoring) grass-cutting where the ground has been cleared and re-seeded at the top of the High Street? A single mow will cost around £20. Sponsoring one day's mow, or part of a mow, would go a long way to making sure that the grass is kept in good order. If you would like to help in this way, please contact Ann Osborn on 01883 717770.

Judging - The South East in Bloom judges will be visiting on Thursday 16th July and the Britain in Bloom judges at a date to be arranged in early August. We need to make sure the village looks its very best when they come!

FRONT GARDENS COMPETITION

Last year we had nearly 40 entries.
Can we do even better this year? This is your chance to impress the judges.

If you live in the Parish of Limpsfield and your front garden is visible from the road, you are encouraged to enter your garden once again. Having won 'Gold' in both "South East in Bloom" and the UK wide "Britain in Bloom" in 2008, Limpsfield Village has again been entered for both. So the village has a lot to live up to! Your front garden could make all the difference and help us this year to become national Champion in our 'Large Village' entry category.

As last year, the Front Gardens Competition is again kindly being organised by Heather Gale & Irene Harris, and the judging will be undertaken by locally chosen gardening experts.

The categories, unchanged from last year, will be:

  • Best Small Front Garden (under 30 sq yards)
  • Best Medium Front Garden (between 30-100 sq yards)
  • Best Large Front Garden (over 100 sq yards)
  • Best Hanging Basket
  • Best Container
  • Best Trader Display

Judging criteria - Everyone is welcome to enter (not just Limpsfield High Street)! Judges will be looking in particular at:

  • Layout
  • Colour combination
  • Quality of cultivation
  • Cleanliness

Competition Timetable

  1. 1st June Application forms available from Memorial Stores and from Irene and Heather.
  2. 7th July Closing date for applications to be returned
  3. 14th July Judging (South-East in Bloom judges visit Limpsfield during the same week)
  4. 17th July A party in the early evening at Old Court Cottage for all entrants and partners and presentation of prizes to category winners and runners up.

 For further information about Limpsfield in Bloom
or if you would like to help in any way (helpers are always welcome), please contact:

Lillian Hindley 01883 712230, Ann Osborn 01883 717770 or Stephen Mills 01883 713116

Pictures will follow when I receive some

Limpsfield in Bloom 2009

A message from your Blooming Leader