The RHS Community update Issue 01 • Spring 2010 www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom

Britain in Bloom 2010: the finalists

Trees for evacuees Guernsey remembers Fundraising: everything counts An inner-city success story Conservation gardening 02/ Welcome

Your new magazine 02/ Welcome to your new magazine Welcome to Growing Communities, the new magazine for RHS community groups including RHS 03 News and RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood participants, and Creating a River of Green RHS Affiliated Societies. Entente Florale The aims of this new magazine are to: like to send us, please direct them to • Provide you with ideas and inspiration [email protected]. We need stories 04/05 through the feature articles that help us to highlight the environmental, • Update you on relevant news from the horticultural and community benefits of RHS Britain in Bloom 2010: The Finalists RHS, the regions/nations, the “in Bloom” community gardening, which would have a and It’s Your Neighbourhood groups, and broad appeal or interest and/or which tell the Affiliated Societies us about something genuinely innovative or 06/07 • Provide information about upcoming unique. In addition, we can include (in our Dig Together Day 2010 events or opportunities News In Brief section) quick updates about First Impressions count in Harrogate • Serve as a showcase for the great work special anniversaries and awards or other going on all across the UK through RHS similar items. News In Brief community gardening programmes We hope you enjoy this first edition of and schemes Growing Communities and we look forward This publication is about you and for to your comments, news and stories for the 08/09 In Focus you and so it will need your contributions next edition. Trees for evacuees: Guernsey remembers and feedback to be a success. If you have any comments, news or stories you would Best regards, The Editors 10/11 Fundraising success in inner-city London I am delighted to welcome you to the first edition

of the new magazine for RHS community groups: 12/13 Growing Communities. Creating compost from garden waste This is a publication for and about quality and appearance of our environment. Nurturing native wildlife RHS Britain in Bloom and RHS It’s Your I would like to thank you for your important

Neighbourhood participants and our contribution to horticulture and gardening, 14 News RHS Affiliated Societies. and for generously sharing your knowledge I have been inspired by the with your communities and the gardeners Sowing the seeds of interest wonderful work you are doing in your of tomorrow. for new generations communities, green spaces and gardens, I look forward to reading more about and by the impressive number of young your achievements in future editions of people who are joining in. Growing Communities, so please do keep 14/15 Special Offers Last year there were 1,073 us informed of what you are doing. communities participating in “in Bloom” in their region/nation and 67 RHS Britain Wishing you a fruitful 2010, 16 in Bloom UK Finalists. RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood In addition, there were 891 groups participating in RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood (formerly Neighbourhood Awards) and the Growing Communities is published by RHS Affiliated Societies programme had RHS Community Horticulture, 80 Vincent a membership of 2,857 local gardening Gordon Seabright Square, London SW1P 2PE Tel 020 7821 3651 clubs and horticultural societies. Acting Director General Email [email protected] Collectively that is a tremendous number Royal Horticultural Society ©2010 The Royal Horticultural Society of people all dedicated to improving the

Growing Communities • Spring 2010 RHS Community News /03

Campaigns launch 2010 Congratulations to – creating a our representatives River of Green in

The UK is a member of, and participant in, Entente Florale Europe, a “Bloom-like” campaign focusing on the greening of towns and villages, ecologically and environmentally sensitive development, the management of green spaces and education and communication initiatives which promote environmental awareness.

Twelve European countries participate in And last but not least… Entente Florale Europe and each year each We have one final announcement: country may nominate two communities our seasoned Entente Florale jury member, to represent them. In 2010 the UK’s Clive Addison, has been selected as the representatives are St. Brelade (Jersey; Chairman of the Entente Florale Europe jury 2009 RHS Britain in Bloom Gold & Category by a landslide vote. RHS Britain in Bloom and RHS It’s Your Winner, Coastal 12k and below) and Many congratulations to Clive! Neighbourhood kick off the year on 27-28 Stockton-on-Tees (Northumbria; 2009 March 2010 in communities all across the UK. RHS Britain in Bloom Gold & Category The theme for this year’s launch event Winner, City). is “Creating a River of Green” or “mass Congratulations St. Brelade and greening” so we have asked groups to focus Stockton-on-Tees! their launch event activities on planting or greening up activities. We will also be The UK’s participation in Entente Florale trying to link into the fact that 2010 is the is managed by the RHS as part of its International Year of Biodiversity. stewardship of Britain in Bloom. In addition The RHS is organising the Press Launch to having two communities participate in the which is being held on 24 March in London campaign, the UK also has a member on the and we hope to really kick things off with a Entente Florale Board and two jury members. bang and grab the media’s attention so that The jury members are former members of the the buzz will trickle down to regional and local RHS Britain in Bloom UK Judging Panel and media and help all the participating groups are selected by the RHS and the Chairman of get plenty of coverage of their own events. the Judging Panel. This year we would like to The RHS is providing groups with support welcome Sue Rodrigues as one of our new materials to help them promote their events jury members. locally so keep your eyes open for information about events near you. Congratulations Sue!

www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom 04/ RHS Britain in Bloom Congratulations RHS Britain in Bloom finalists 2010!

The RHS Britain in Bloom 2010 Finalists have been Category: Champion of Champions confirmed and are already hard at work cleaning up and Entry Name Region / Nation greening up cities, towns, villages, coastal resorts and Falkland Scotland urban communities all across the UK. Congratulations to Grouville Jersey them for having achieved the honour of being nominated Harrogate Yorkshire to represent their region/nation – that alone places them Pitlochry Scotland amongst the best! Category: City Entry Name Region / Nation Scotland London Borough of London Islington The 2010 Northampton East Midlands Solihull Heart of England finalists are: Tameside North West

Category: Coastal (12k and above) Entry Name Region / Nation Bangor Northern Ireland Scarborough Yorkshire

Category: Coastal (12k and below) Entry Name Region / Nation Hunstanton Anglia Lytham North West Mablethorpe East Midlands North Berwick Scotland St Ives & Carbis Bay South West Tenby Wales

Category: Large City Entry Name Region / Nation South West Leeds Yorkshire Sunderland Northumbria

Growing Communities • Spring 2010 /05 Congratulations RHS Britain in Bloom

Clockwise, from left: Bangor, Islington, finalists 2010! Falkland & Stanghow

Category: Small Town Category: Urban Community Entry Name Region / Nation Entry Name Region / Nation Ahoghill Northern Ireland Beighton () Yorkshire Cricklade South West Didsbury North West Garstang North West (Manchester) Hunmanby Yorkshire Dyce (Aberdeen) Scotland Keswick Cumbria Eston Northumbria (Middlesborough) Long Sutton East Midlands Moor (Oxmoor) Anglia Category: Large Town / Small City (12-35k) Sedgefield Northumbria Moseley Heart of England Entry Name Region / Nation () Bicester Thames and Category: Small Village Port Marine & Village South West Chilterns Entry Name Region / Nation Quarter (Portishead) Bury St Edmunds Anglia Stanghow Northumbria Spondon (Derby) East Midlands Coleraine Northern Ireland Wolfscastle Wales Walthamstow London Colwyn Bay Wales Village (London) Category: Town Durham Northumbria Entry Name Region / Nation Perth Scotland Category: Village City of London London Whitehaven Cumbria Entry Name Region / Nation Cupar Scotland Bulphan Anglia Category: Large Town / Small City (35-100k) Douglas Isle of Man Muthill Scotland Entry Name Region / Nation Halstead Anglia Norton Heart of England Bedford Anglia St Saviour Jersey Scarva Northern Ireland Crawley South East Wetherby Yorkshire Derry City Northern Ireland Fareham South

Category: Large Village Entry Name Region / Nation Cayton Yorkshire Comrie Scotland Market Bosworth East Midlands St. Pierre du Bois Guernsey Tatsfield South East Wedmore South West Woolton North West

www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom 06/ RHS Community News

Dig Together Day 2010

UK put on local Dig Together Day events. and resources much more on getting even The theme for this year’s event is going to more national and regional press coverage. be “Growing as a Community.” We are asking In addition, our press team will be able to those participating clubs/societies to organise provide a bit more support to you in getting an event/activity that the whole community local press coverage of your event. Since this can get involved with and get their hands is where we will be focusing our resources we dirty gardening together. You might choose will not be organising a press launch event to make a start on a larger project that will as we did last year; previous participants continue after DTD or to pick a project that suggested that better national and regional can be completed on the day; the important press coverage would be much more valuable. things is to bring your community together There is already information available 2009 saw the unveiling of a new initiative, and get them gardening! Not sure what to you on the RHS website at www.rhs.org. Dig Together Day (DTD), an event specifically you might do in your community? Don’t uk/digtogetherday, including suggestions designed to help put local horticultural worry, the RHS has plenty of experience with about what to do on the day. Furthermore, we societies and gardening clubs in the RHS community gardening and we will provide will be putting together and distributing the Affiliated Societies scheme back on the map. you with plenty of ideas of what you can do support packs as early as possible but in order Plans for Dig Together Day 2010 are on the day, as well as support to help you to receive your pack you will need to register already well underway in order to ensure this promote your event and ensure it is a success. your society’s/club’s Dig Together Day event year’s event is even more successful. Mark Feedback from 2009 DTD participants by going to the web address shown above. We your calendars; 4th and 5th September are has been instrumental in helping us to shape are looking forward to another successful Dig set to be a highlight of the horticultural Dig Together Day 2010. As a result of this Together Day and can’t wait to hear about calendar as clubs and societies all across the feedback the RHS is going to focus its energy what everyone will be doing on the day.

arrogate in Bloom has launched a new Guest house makes Hcommunity campaign Anyone in the called ‘First Impressions’, with hospitality trade room for improvement members of the group offering knows that making to become ‘garden mentors’ a good first to Harrogate’s small hotels impression is vital. and guesthouses. Mary Bond Proprietors of the ‘Geminian Guest House’, Michael and Denys Dean, have signed up to Mary Bond, First Impressions this project and readily admit Co-ordinator for Harrogate in that guests’ first impression of Bloom, added: “Anyone in the their garden leaves room for hospitality trade knows that improvement. making a good first impression Denys said: “We’ve spent a is vital. A warm welcome on the fortune on plants and containers doorstep from owners is assured for the front of our two but guests need to be welcomed properties but nothing we plant the minute they step off the seems to grow. This help from pavement. Our mentors will find Harrogate in Bloom is going the best plants for all gardens to be invaluable to us. It will and complement the building in improve our look, save us money use of colour and scale.” and also stop us making those Local resident Maureen annual horticultural howlers.” Ingles, a regular contributor to and winner of the Harrogate in Bloom competitions, will Left: Germinian Guesthouse join Harriet Andrew, a former owners Michael and Denys Dean member of Harrogate in Bloom, with Mary Bond from Harrogate in Bloom (co-ordinator of garden to offer help and advice to mentoring project) Michael and Denys.

Growing Communities • Spring 2010 RHS Community News in Brief /07

News from...

Welcome to our new news section where we will post announcements and news-in-brief or “nibs” from the RHS, the regions and nations, Affiliated Societies, “in Bloom” groups and Neighbourhood groups. The section is only as good as its contributions so if you have something you think other readers would be interested to know, please do tell us about it.

Highgate Horticultural Society and to reward volunteers from RHS Neighbourhood Awards Stationery prices stay celebrated 150 years as a society across Scotland who worked becomes RHS It’s Your low for 2010 tirelessly throughout 2009 to Neighbourhood in 2010. To mark the occasion, they improve the quality of their Great news for all the Affiliated completed a joint project (in local environments. Roseanna See the feature article on page Societies who take advantage partnership with the United Cunningham, Minister for the 16 for more information. of the extremely competitively Reformed Church) to refurbish Environment, gave a heart-felt priced stationery available the garden in the front of a thank you to all present, and South West in Bloom Chairman, from the RHS Mail Order local chapel. The garden was spoke about the benefits the Vic Verrier MBE, to retire. department… prices have officially opened by Lynne Beautiful Scotland campaign not increased at all from last After 26 years serving South West Featherstone, MP for Hornsey brings to communities the year! You can download the in Bloom, the last 10 of which he and Wood Green, during a length and breadth of Scotland. order form at www.rhs.org.uk/ spent as Chairman, celebration party held on 11 The Minister said, “Last year affiliatedsocieties, or you can Vic Verrier has recently retired. September 2009. The event around 300 communities worked request it be sent to you by There can be no doubt about was attended by many of the to improve their local areas phoning 0207 821 3069. Vic’s contributions to the “in society’s members and included through the Beautiful Scotland Bloom” cause as he was recently a display of memorabilia campaign, improving their local The Growing for Success recognised with the RHS Britain in from their archives. The newly environments and developing a talks series Bloom Outstanding Contribution refurbished garden has since won real sense of community spirit. award. Vic’s contributions to The Growing for Success series a Certificate of Excellence from The Scottish Government is horticulture go well beyond “in is an annual charitable talks the London Garden Society in committed to creating a greener Bloom” as he was also awarded programme that aims to inspire the Garden Display in a Public Scotland but we cannot do it an RHS Long Service Medal gardeners across the UK to enjoy Place category. On 15 December alone. The Beautiful Scotland (2001) and an MBE for services to the range of benefits associated 2009 the current committee met awards show that community horticulture and the community with gardening on a more to mark the 150th Anniversary action can make a difference and of Somerset (2002). We wish regular basis. The RHS subsidise of the inaugural meeting of the I’d encourage other towns and Vic all the best for his retirement these talks to encourage a Society and to toast its longevity villages the length and breadth and thank him once again for his diverse audience to listen to and look to the future. of Scotland to sign up and tremendous contributions. high profile speakers. The talks get involved.” And also celebrating 150 years are often held within beautiful as a horticultural/gardening Banksian/Grenfell medals gardens, sometimes offering a Cumbria in Bloom celebrates society are: update drinks reception and/or book 25th Anniversary in 2010. Hailsham Horticultural Society signings. There is also a Growing Kidlington Gardening Society The time for medal ordering is The voluntary group was for Success talk at each of the Aylesbury Gardening Society upon us again. To order your set up in 1985 with the aim RHS London Shows in 2010. We Bovey Tracey Horticultural Society Affiliated Society’s personalised, of encouraging community have some fantastic speakers Congratulations to you too engraved medal, you can now involvement in working to lined up this year including Chris and best of luck for your order online at www.rhs.org.uk/ enhance the appearance of the Beardshaw and Ursula Buchan. continued success! affiliatedsocieties or by e-mailing local towns, villages and hamlets. For more information on all of [email protected] or by post Over the intervening years more the talks taking place in 2010 Beautiful Scotland hosts at RHS Affiliated Societies, 80 than a third of villages and towns please visit www.rhs.org.uk/ reception in Scottish Parliament. Vincent Square, London SW1P within the County have benefited rhseventfinder. 2PE. Please ensure those of (NB: Beautiful Scotland is the from being part of the region’s you who have ordered send us equivalent of “in Bloom” in campaign. Joan Johnstone of a copy of your show’s schedule Scotland) Kirby Stephen (Silver Medallist and visit our web pages for in Britain in Bloom in 2009) A Parliamentary Reception, more information and the rules recently commented, “Entry into hosted by Bruce Crawford of awarding these prestigious CiB brings out the best in the MSP, took place at the Scottish medals. The final deadline for community with people giving Parliament on Wednesday ordering your society’s medal is time and talents to a project 3rd February to celebrate the 31st March 2010. with real purpose.” Beautiful Scotland campaign www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom 08/ RHS Communities in Focus Trees for evacuees This year sees the 70th anniversary of the evacuation from Guernsey of over 20,000 inhabitants escaping the imminent arrival of German occupying forces at the start of World War II.

o mark the occasion, the island’s “It is hoped that these trees will benefit Britain in Bloom entry of St Pierre our community, as well as our native wildlife It is hoped that these trees Tdu Bois, or St Peter’s as the parish is and the environment. We are working will benefit our community, as more commonly known locally, brought the with local conservation organisation, ‘La well as our native wildlife and community together to plant a lasting legacy Société Guernesiaise’, to establish a working the environment. of trees. plan for encouraging insects, birds and all Marguerite Talmage Marguerite Talmage, a member of the types of wildlife into the meadow, as well Floral St Peter’s Group (the parish’s “in as protecting the rich variety of plant life Bloom” group), explained more about this already established there.” local roots initiative. She said: “In June 1940, Concluding, Marguerite said: “Once many St Peter’s families were involved in the majority of trees had been planted, the heartrending decision of whether to Guernsey’s Bailiff, Sir Geoffrey Rowland, and send their children away to safety, or remain six former evacuees planted a copse of seven in the island and face occupation by the English Oaks which will create an area for enemy. Those who left were to be away from quiet reflection. The church bells rang out to their homes for five long years. 70 years on, bring the formal part of the occasion to an the parish wanted to commemorate those end, and everyone gathered to chat about difficult days by planting 70 trees. their morning’s work and enjoy well earned “A canopy of English Oak, Alder, Willow, coffee and bacon rolls.” Sweet Chestnut and Ash with an under story of Hawthorne, Crab Apple, Holly and Elder was planted in the heart of the parish in Le Ch’min du Trésor. The name means ‘a walk on church land’ in Guernsey French, and it’s a circular route created on glebe land winding around the rectory through natural woodland, into a meadow below. “The trees were provided by ‘The Green Legacy Project’, a local charity that aims to facilitate the enhancement of Guernsey’s green infrastructure and educate both adults and children about the value of plants.” Commemorating the island’s heritage in this way involved young and old alike, said Marguerite: “Over 150 St Pierrais, (St Peter’s parishioners) took part, including evacuees, representatives from youth and sports clubs, as well as primary school pupils. The planting event was also entered in the BBC ‘Breathing Places Tree O’ Clock’ attempt to plant a world record number of trees.

Growing Communities • Spring 2010 /09

In June 1940, many St Peter’s families were involved in the heartrending decision of whether to send their children away to safety, or remain in the island and face occupation by the enemy.

www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom 10/ RHS Communities in Focus

Growing Communities • Spring 2010 /11 Everything counts in fundraising

Walthamstow Village in Bloom is one hundred per cent volunteer-led. Helen Lerner Opposite page: ‘Walthamstow Village scrubbers’ Helen Lerner (centre) and Teresa Deacon get scrubbing; Left: Helen Lerner (second left) and her clean-up team

Walthamstow Village in Greater London may have only 2000 people on its electoral roll, but it has already raised £12000 for its 2010 ‘in Bloom’ initiatives.

s Helen Lerner, Chair of Walthamstow project that benefits the community. So we “But not everything has to cost money. Village in Bloom and Environment applied for and received a grant of £6,700 to Our monthly gardening club includes a plant ACo-ordinator for the Walthamstow refurbish some planters that had fallen into pot and seed swap, where we ask residents to Village Residents’ Association explained, it’s disrepair and had become overgrown. bring a plant, terracotta pots or some seeds all about who you know. “With the funds, we will empty the and swap them for something different. She said: “Walthamstow Village in Bloom planters, repair the brickwork under We then encourage them to plant them in is one hundred per cent volunteer-led, and conservation rules, refill them with topsoil their front garden as part of our entry into when we first started “in Bloom” in 2009, we and our designer, Graham Sherman, will London in Bloom’s Urban approached everyone we knew to try and create a new design for them, using drought- Community category.” raise money for our projects. Some people tolerant, hardy perennials that give year- came to us because they wanted to join round colour.” in and help, others just wanted to donate Offering advice to other “in Bloom” groups, money. Some businesses like to give products Helen said: “There’s a lot of monitoring rather than cash, and we use these as raffle involved after you are awarded a grant, and prizes, again raising monies. Everything really I would recommend that groups negotiate does count in fundraising! with the grant holders to make the process as “One of our committee members, Teresa easy as possible. Also, get to know the stock Deacon, is a great fundraiser and a staunch phrases to use on grant applications and talk campaigner and for Walthamstow Village to other groups to find out how in Bloom. She does our presentations and, they were successful in getting funding.” as the grant application forms can be quite Describing their other fundraising activities, demanding, we complete them together. she said: “We held a quiz night in November We found out that our community council, and served a curry supper to 130 people and London Borough of Waltham Forest, gives up we also held a big garden party in July which to £10,000 to each council ward for a specific was supported by over 1,000 people.

www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom 12/ RHS Communities in Focus

Altogether better

Creating compost from the season, almost 90 people use the site and Villager and professional horticulturalist we generate 400 bags of compost. Jon Allbutt was happy to offer his advice: “I garden waste is a great “We sort out the material that people gave the Community Composters technical way to be environmentally bring to be composted, ranging from grass advice on how to make compost. I also now responsible. cuttings and tree branches, to shredded give advice to other groups, even our nearby paper. Branches, up to a maximum diameter “in Bloom” rivals Limpsfield in Bloom! Any hanks to the Tatsfield Community of one inch, go into our larger shredder, other “in Bloom” or community group is Composting Scheme, this message followed by a smaller shredder to make it welcome to contact us for help. All you need Thas been spread throughout its finer. We build up the composting bins in is space and enthusiasm, the technique is Surrey community, and more widely through layers, starting with whatever is shredded, easy to understand.” Tatsfield’s participation in South East in then grass, paper and leaves. Gradually it’s all Bloom and Britain in Bloom. rotated over a 4-month cycle. As Bob David, President of the Tatsfield “When it’s complete, we lift the compost Horticultural Society explained, the scheme out with a pitchfork, and pass it through The benefits of the consists of volunteers working together to a mechanical sieve. Then our ‘black gold’ scheme are clear; it benefit their village. “It’s run entirely by compost is put into bags and given away to reduces fly-tipping, reduces volunteers from the Tatsfield Horticultural the community, in return for a small donation Society and the Tatsfield in Bloom to help cover our running costs.” car miles of residents committee, with the support of our Parish Chair of Community Composting and travelling to the recycling Council, Surrey Council and Tandridge District “in Bloom” committee member, Jennie centre, and it generates a Council. Youngsters doing volunteer work to South instigated the composting scheme. good supply of compost gain their Duke of bronze awards Explaining her motivation, she said: “I’m also help us. a keen gardener and member of the right on your doorstep. Bob David “The benefits of the scheme are clear; Horticultural Society, so all environmental it reduces fly-tipping, reduces car miles of benefits are close to my heart. residents travelling to the recycling centre, “To make it sustainable, we use recycled and it generates a good supply of compost pallets to create the composting bins. All right on your doorstep.” of our ‘in Bloom’ green waste goes to the Describing how the composting initiative composters and we take the compost back for works, Barry Bull from the Tatsfield in Bloom soil enrichment. We do what we can to make committee said: “Our composting centre is the site available to all and encourage people open every Saturday from 10am until 12 to use it. It’s good to feel part of something noon, from April through to September. Over that’s so valuable to the community.”

Growing Communities • Spring 2010 /13

The great crested newt is the largest newt found in Britain, and it’s one of the most protected species in the British countryside.

Caring conservationist nurtures native wildlife strong dislike of litter developed volunteers to help and the River Linnet I’ve learned so much into the discovery of a protected Butts Project began. The local council about nature that I didn’t Aspecies when Doreen Tilley of recognised our work and English Nature, the Bury St Edmunds waded into her local river government body responsible for wildlife, know before this project. to remove bottles and cans that had been also got interested. Doreen Tilley carelessly dumped. “I’ve learned so much about nature that Describing her actions, 89-year-old I didn’t know before this project. Things like Project volunteers; Balancing Pond, which was Doreen said: “I was out walking my dogs the newts hibernate in winter and are very constructed to take flood water away as part in 1990 when I noticed the rubbish-strewn active from April to July; the males are like of the adjacent residential development; and state of the River Linnet. I decided to do little dragons, with bright orange bellies; Tilley Pond, which was dug out in recognition something about it, as I can’t bear to see and they’re not in the water all the time, of the important colony of Great Crested rubbish thrown about. So I got a few friends as females lay their eggs in the reeds. Their Newts that were discovered in the area, and together, we put on our wellies, waded in numbers are multiplying now and they are named after Mrs Doreen Tilley. there, and got the rubbish out. That’s how very precious. They wouldn’t have been “Doreen is a shining example of a it all started, and then we discovered the discovered if it hadn’t been for this work.” stalwart of the community. She has spent a wonderful wildlife that lived near and in the St Edmund’s Borough Council’s Parks lifetime improving her local environment. If river, including water voles and a colony of Development Manager, John Smithson, everyone was like that, we would all enjoy great crested newts.” was involved with the project. He said: “We beautiful places.” The great crested newt is the largest newt actively support any wildlife work in open After 20 years of working as a volunteer found in Britain, and as it’s one of the most spaces and offer advice and management. conservationist, dedicated Doreen is now protected species in the British countryside, It’s great to see members of the community hanging up her wellies. She said: “It was Doreen had to get a license to work with actively involved in parks and public lovely to get involved and well worth the the colony. open spaces. hard work. But I’ve done enough now; She continued: “A housing development “The River Linnet Butts Project is within t’s well looked after and the wildlife is was due to be built near to where we the Saxon Gate Nature Reserve, and the area well protected.” found the newts. As we wanted to protect includes Grindle Paddock; Dew Pond, which the newts’ habitat, we appealed for more was restored by the River Linnet-Butts-

www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom 14/ RHS News

Sowing the seeds of interest in our horticultural heritage Help the environment and get free products

The RHS is pleased to announce a partnership with Reciproc8™ Recycling to benefit our community gardening groups which include ALL Affiliated Societies, “in Bloom” groups (finalists and region/nation participants) and It’s Your Neighbourhood groups. Reciproc8™ is a recycling company that provides free products and experiences to community organisations and clubs throughout the UK through a recycling rewards scheme. The Reciproc8 Rewards™ programme offers a wide range of products and experiences to support community groups and clubs. All of these are available free of charge by redeeming points for recycled goods and it’s free to enrol. “Any opportunity to roll up their sleeves and dig in the dirt always puts a smile on the children’s faces but combine it with stories of explorers and pirates and that has to be a winning formula.” Products include: So said Alan Graham, Head Gardener at Craigtoun Country Park. Growing and Planting range – seeds, vegetables, plants, trees and much more lan will be working “Alan Graham has been a alongside Horticulture professional gardener for nearly Gardening Equipment – a range of tools for children and adults AApprentice, Pamela 50 years and is keen to pass on Outdoor Furniture – including compost bins, raised beds, Marnie, to relate the many his knowledge to the youngsters. tables and benches adventures and achievements Anyone who hears Alan speak is of five intrepid Scottish plant enthused by his great passion for Husbandry range – hen houses, nesting boxes, hibernation hunters to the children of St plants; he is a captivating and houses and much more Columba’s Primary School in animated story teller and really Cupar, Scotland. Together, they does a fine job in bringing alive The experiences include: will be exploring the lives and the many exciting adventures.” Visits to venues such as botanic gardens, field study centres, work of David Douglas, George Alan, keen to sow the seeds of farms, museums Forrest, Robert Fortune, Francis interest in what he believes is such Masson and Archibald Menzies. an important, yet little studied Free transport to these locations and others Mary Law, MBE, Chairman topic, said: “The fascinating Courses on the RHS Continuing Professional Development of Cupar in Bloom explained: stories of the Scottish plant (CPD) programme “We are keen to nurture a hunters have to be told because The schemes are simple to start and deeper understanding and love the horticultural map of Britain manage. You gain Reciproc8 Points™ for of horticulture amongst the would be very different if it were the products (eg. mobile phones, inkjet younger generation. The school not for these dedicated men. cartridges and toners) that you collect has already worked with Cupar in They travelled the world in search for recycling. You can then redeem these Bloom to develop an Eco Group, of new plants, endured terrible Reciproc8 Points™ against the range of and is keen on all environmental hardships, often risking their products and experiences in the Reciproc8 issues. Their lovely garden has lives and spent years away from Rewards™ programme. By creating your sustainable planting and they home. Francis Masson sailed own network of support through the even grow veggies for the school with Captain Cook and defended community and local businesses, you can kitchen. Now, Head Teacher, Jo his plants from pirates, Robert make the scheme a huge success. Local companies can not only Boggan, sees our Plant Hunters Fortune disguised himself as a collect items, they can also register and donate their points to your Project as an innovative way Chinaman and took tea plants to community group or club. to enhance another part of the India and some say that Steven There are ample resources on the Reciproc8 ™ website to help curriculum, linking in with History Spielberg based the look of his make your scheme a success and setting up a scheme is easy; it’s and Heritage. Set to go ahead in Indiana Jones character on a done online and only takes a couple of minutes. The schemes are the springtime, Alan and Pam will photo of George Forrest!” on-going so you can keep recycling and keep redeeming! be going into the school to give With such exciting tales to several illustrated talks to Primary tell, this is one school project 6, then help them plant and look that looks certain to capture the For a fact sheet about exactly how the scheme works please contact after some of the plant varieties imagination of the children. the RHS Community Horticulture team on [email protected] introduced by the plant hunters. For details of the full range of rewards please visit www.reciproc8.co.uk

Growing Communities • Spring 2010 RHS Special Offers /15

Special offer for groups Spring is nearly here and that means it’s time to start planning your horticultural calendar. Why not take advantage of some of the fantastic offers available to groups to go and visit gardens? Better still, make 2010 the year that you finally make it to one of the RHS’s world-renowned shows for an unforgettable experience.

Other shows: Event Highlights: RHS Grow Your Own Day, 6-7 March The RHS shows and gardens BBC Gardeners’ World Live – 16-20 June, Orchids in the Glasshouse, 13 March-11 April want to encourage more The NEC, Birmingham Berry Weekend, 3-4 July groups to take advantage of what they have to offer Malvern Spring Gardening Show – 6-9 May, Wisley Flower Show, 10-12 September The Malvern Showground, Worcestershire and so they have created Taste of Autumn, 21-24 October Groups of 10+, £7.50pp if booked and paid special group packages and Malvern Autumn Show – 25-26 September, 3 days in advance, £8.50pp after, please the Malvern Showground, Worcestershire discounts that can save you call 01483 212 307 up to £12 a ticket. For details of these shows please visit the RHS website at www.rhs.org.uk/shows (Please note: this does not replace the Affiliated Society Please read on for more information! group visit benefit; this is for additional group visits by (Please note that only RHS individual members are Affiliated Societies and/or other groups’ information.) able to attend RHS Shows on members’ days.)

Group garden visits: RHS Garden Harlow Carr – A beautiful informal Yorkshire garden, full of delightful surprises and Shows offering group rates: innovative planting throughout the year. Event Highlights: RHS Show – Kick start the season Tulip Festival, 1-16 May with this celebration of the best of spring RHS Grow Your Own Days, 6-7 March, and the best of Wales. 16-18 April, Bute Park, 3-4 July & 23-24 October Cardiff Castle Exhibition of Garden Sound, 4-30 September Groups of 10+, £7.50pp, individuals from £10, Groups of 10+, £6pp, please call 01423 724 690 call 020 7014 8444. RHS Garden Hyde Hall – An inspirational RHS Chelsea Flower Show – The world Essex garden with sweeping panoramas, big famous pinnacle of the gardening calendar, open skies and far reaching views. don’t miss out. 25-29 May, Royal Hospital, Event Highlights: Chelsea, London RHS Grow Your Own Day, 6 March Individual tickets priced at £45pp. Special A Celebration of Roses, 12-13 June for Affiliated Societies call 0844 209 1668 Chilli Pepper Weekend, 18-19 September to purchase up to 4 tickets for public days Taste of Autumn, 23-24 October for only £33pp. Groups of 10+, £6pp, please call 01245 400 256

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show RHS Garden Rosemoor – A jewel nestling – Walk around the show and enjoy this within a wooded Devon valley inspirational horticultural extravaganza. Event Highlights: 6-11 July, East Molesey, Surrey RHS Grow Your Own Day, 6 March Groups of 10+, £27pp or £25pp for Affiliated RHS National Rhododendron Show, 24-25 April Societies, individual tickets from £30, call Rosemoor’s 20th Anniversary: 020 7014 8444. Walk & Talk with Garden Curator, 1 June Apple Day, 10 October RHS Tatton Park Show – The greatest Groups of 10+, £6pp, please call 01805 626 810 gardening show of the north, with something for everyone. 21-25 July, RHS Garden Wisley – A world-class garden nr Knutsford, Cheshire of extraordinary diversity and depth, the Groups of 10+, £20.50pp, individual tickets historic heart of the RHS. from £27pp, call 020 7014 8444.

www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom Throughout 2009 the RHS Britain in Bloom Development Steering Group (DSG) worked with the “in Bloom” regions and nations to further develop the Neighbourhood Awards programme and thus we now have RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood!

t was felt that, given the 2009 changes judge. In addition, some other terminology to RHS Britain in Bloom and the has changed to make it more accessible Irelationship between the campaigns, to everyone, instead of being geared for the Neighbourhood Awards needed to be experts. The core pillars of RHS It’s Your “re-aligned” with RHS Britain in Bloom. In Neighbourhood, in priority order, are: addition, there was concern over the name; • Community Participation its lack of impact and the use of “awards” • Environmental Responsibility for a non-competitive programme. And • Gardening Achievement takes off! finally, there was the belief that, like Bloom, Neighbourhood Awards would benefit from: These core pillars also form the three sections of the assessment and are • being modernised, made more relevant attributed 40%, 30% and 30% of the • simplification and clarification marks, respectively. • emphasizing the community and Groups’ accomplishments will now be environmental benefits of participation recognised with certificates of achievement RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood is not a covering five different levels (instead of only new programme; it is the next evolution of three) and they are: Establishing, Improving, Neighbourhood Awards, which is aligned with Developing, Thriving and Outstanding. the core pillars (or principles) of RHS Britain Expanding the certificates to five levels allows in Bloom and which should help carry for a genuine starting point for groups entirely the programme successfully into new to community gardening and a more the future. gradual progression through to the top level. In addition to changing the In addition to these certificates of name of the programme to RHS achievement, through which every single It’s Your Neighbourhood, we have group’s contributions are recognised, a also revised: National Certificate of Distinction has also been introduced to allow regions and nations to put • the terminology forward truly exceptional and exemplary groups • the definition of a “ neighbourhood” for special recognition. This certificate will be • the core pillars presented to recipients at the RHS Britain in • the levels of achievement Bloom UK Finals Awards Ceremony. and recognition • the assessment form and role of assessors At the same time the decision was also If you would like more taken to remove the three-year limit on information about RHS participation so that now groups may It’s Your Neighbourhood, participate in RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood for as long as they like. please contact us at The terminology of the campaign has [email protected] changed to more implicitly and explicitly or 020 7821 3360 for reflect its non-competitive nature and so now, for example, there is an assessment an info pack. done by an assessor instead of judging by a

Image by Johnny Boylan

Registered Charity no: 222879 / SC038262

www.rhs.org.uk/itsyourneighbourhood