INTRODUCTION ALNWICK, lying in the heart of Northumberland, is one of the most northerly market towns in England, home of the Dukes of Northumberland at Alnwick Castle and is the historic County town of Northumberland. Alnwick Town Council enters Northumbria in Bloom on behalf of the town, however it is Alnwick in Bloom, an autonomous team of committed volunteers, which devises the route and hosts the Judges on the days they visit. Alnwick in Bloom has been in existence for over thirty years and committee members are detailed below, in a list that shows their individual responsibilities. Our aims have never wavered –to make Alnwick look the best it can, so residents and visitors alike are pleased to be here. Our strategy is to work with all Councils and volunteer groups, e.g. Friends of the Earth, local schools such as Alnwick South First School and big businesses, such as Sainsburys, to create the best environment possible here in our town. Alnwick in Bloom, Summer Portfolio, 2013 1 ALNWICK IN BLOOM ACHIEVEMENTS 2012-2013 Alnwick achieved a GOLD Award in Northumbria in Bloom. Several of our Special Awards entries won Gold or Silver Gilt last year Working with Alnwick South School. Two volunteers weekly to assist with the children’s planting areas, and liaising with Sainsburys for a Grant to the school. Collaboration with Friends of the Earth and Northumberland County Council, to demonstrate sustainable planting in Alnwick. Facilitating resurfacing the main entry pathway on Column Field. Children’s Painting Competition. Summer Gardens Competition. Two Presentation Evenings at The Alnwick Garden. More bulbs planted at Barter Books and the Column Field. 33 Trees Planted on the Infirmary Bank, with forty volunteers from several organisations. Devising and running a two day exhibition of Alnwick in Bloom, during the Festival of Alnwick. The proposal and successful Adoption of all the Two Tier Planters originally funded by Alnwick in Bloom, by Alnwick Town Council. The proposals and successful Adoption by Alnwick Town Council of the Barrels planted by Friends of the Earth. Sponsorship for trees on Column Field and along South Road. The majority of these achievements are far reaching and long lasting. We receive regular feedback from residents who see the improvements being made and commend Alnwick in Bloom’s efforts. Alnwick in Bloom, Summer Portfolio, 2013 2 ALNWICK IN BLOOM- PROJECT 2013 COLUMN FIELD PROJECT-PART 1 The Column Field is one of the show piece areas of Alnwick; Unfortunately the Council cuts have resulted in necessary repairs to pathways in non urgent areas being postponed. This is where Alnwick in Bloom stepped in. One of our Committee requested a quotation for repairing the pathway from South Road, to the Information Point at the foot of the hill, in traditional red tarmac. The quotation was £1700, not a huge amount, but well beyond the funds available to Alnwick in Bloom. However Alnwick in Bloom explained the situation to our Northumberland County Council representatives, Gordon Castle, and Roger Styring, and fortunately both of them had something left in their Councillor’s budgets. Gordon authorised £1000, and Roger made up the balance –Roger was kind enough to request Highways that perhaps the work could follow on from resurfacing work in the town centre 15th to 18th April. Before. Column Field pathway after resurfacing. Alnwick in Bloom, Summer Portfolio, 2013 3 COLUMN FIELD PROJECT –PART 2 Alnwick in Bloom has a new section- The Guerilla Gardeners, and the second part of the Column Field Project involved the Gardeners working, inside the railings, to remove all the weeds from the base of the Column and steps. The next part of the Project is campaigning for new seating and at the same time improving the areas of planting. Watch this Space, as they say! Alnwick in Bloom, Summer Portfolio, 2013 4 WORKING WITH OTHERS ALNWICK IN BLOOM AND ALNWICK SOUTH FIRST SCHOOL Alnwick in Bloom has been working for some time to assist this excellent First School, which achieved ‘Outstanding’ in its recent Ofsted report, and has approached Sainsburys in Alnwick. At our initial meeting with Sainsburys, the Manager, Peter Conwell confirmed that a grant of £150 would be given ‘in kind’ to Alnwick in Bloom to donate to the school. The school has a thriving Eco Group, with representatives from each class in the school, led by teacher Charlotte Murdy, and this year they have been learning about how bees pollinate the plants and flowers. They also designed the posters on the school walls. Alnwick in Bloom, Summer Portfolio, 2013 5 The school needs not only equipment, but volunteers to assist the children. Two of Alnwick in Bloom’s Committee members, Susan Bell and Kathleen Bradford have been working at the School for the last few weeks. They have weeded the Bee Border, and will be moving on to the Allotment section shortly. Charlotte Murdy, Eco Group Leader, Kathleen Bradford, and Susan Bell. On the 3rd July two committee members went to Sainsburys and were taken into Homebase by John, the Sainsburys PR representative, to purchase the equipment. Homebase gave a 35% discount off every listed price, and this is what was donated to the school, by Alnwick in Bloom. 8 x Qualcast Trowels - 8 x Qualcast Forks 2 x smaller Trowels 2x smaller forks. 2x hand rakes 2x hand weeder/hoes. 2x Brooms with handles (medium size) 8x Childrens' gloves. 3x Watering cans 2x Red, weed/multipurpose buckets. 1x Propagator 6x small green planter troughs 1x Large vegetable seed packet 1x Large salad seed packet. Alnwick in Bloom, Summer Portfolio, 2013 6 ALNWICK IN BLOOM AND FRIENDS OF THE EARTH Sometime ago Alnwick in Bloom and Friends of the Earth started a loose partnership, which has now culminated in a project, 'Herbs for Health' to provide planted up tubs outside Infirmary Drive, on South Road. We thought the title most appropriate as the Hospital and Doctors' surgeries are on this site. The story started with Alnwick in Bloom proposing the purchase of the tubs, but because A in B does not want to own anything we decided that the 12 tubs should be donated to the Town Council, and this was accepted at a Council meeting. This means that the tubs are properly insured against accident or injury to the general public. Friends of the Earth planted up the tubs on Saturday 11th May, with a selection of plants that they have provided, such as Rosemary, Mint, Toadflax, Feverfew, Alkanet, Cardoon and Evening Primrose. There are more plants on order and these will be put in later. Alnwick Town Council has supported this project magnificently, by agreeing to accept the tubs in the first place and by funding the watering costs of the tubs for the season. So this is an excellent story of co-operation amongst two local voluntary groups with the support of our Town Council. Alnwick in Bloom, Summer Portfolio, 2013 7 ALNWICK IN BLOOM-SPECIAL AWARDS ENTRIES 2013 Class: 1. Green Batt Garden Voluntary Projects . 5. Graham’s Yard Residential Communities 6. Abbeyfield Extra Care Care/Residential/ Convalescent Homes 7. St. Paul’s Church Religious Establishments Alnwick in Bloom, Summer Portfolio, 2013 8 8. Alnwick Garden Commercial Premises 9. The White Swan Pubs & Hotels 10. Hulne Park Conservation Projects 15. Infirmary Drive Hospital/Hospices/Medical Centres – Herbs for Health. Partnership with Friends of the Earth Alnwick in Bloom, Summer Portfolio, 2013 9 16. Pottergate Adult Training Centre Colleges/Universities/Sports Complexes 17. St. James’s Allotments Allotment Associations Alnwick in Bloom, Summer Portfolio, 2013 10 HORTICULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS. 33 trees planted on The Infirmary Bank. Bulbs planted at Barter Books and Column Field. Willow trees planted along South Road. Stands of Himalayan Birch trees on Column Field. Planting of the two tier planters 2012. Additional planting 2013. Planting of the Clock Flower bed at Wager Cottage. Planting of trees and roses at The Pinfold. Facilitating the sale of Hanging Baskets through out the town each year. Each year we try and add to our impressive record of helping Alnwick to look beautiful. ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS. In the last year Alnwick in Bloom has:- Provided twelve tubs for Friends of the Earth and Alnwick in Bloom to plant up with herbs and sustainable plants at Infirmary Drive. ‘Herbs for Health’ –very appropriate near the Hospital and Doctors’ surgeries! Given the Seed pack from the RHS to Alnwick South School, and continues in a joint planting project, with equipment donated by Sainsburys. Continues to monitor the Wildlife Corridor at Sainsburys. Alnwick in Bloom assists as required. Endorses and assists where possible to improve the recycling in Alnwick. Recycling figures are exceptional compared with many Local Authorities. From 32% in 2007 to over 70% in 2013. Alnwick in Bloom has worked with local schools producing anti litter posters for the local rubbish bins. Alnwick in Bloom organises Litter Picks from time to time, and members assist at The Green Batt garden regular litter clearing sessions. Alnwick in Bloom members have noticed that one lamppost in Bondgate within is not of the ‘Heritage’ type. The County Council has promised to replace it shortly. Alnwick in Bloom, Summer Portfolio, 2013 11 HULNE PARK There is not room in the Portfolio to give each Special Entry its own page, so this year we are putting in more detail about just one of them. Hulne Park is owned by The Duke of Northumberland, and is open to the public all the year round. This makes it a most valuable leisure resource for Alnwick, where anyone can enter and appreciate the serenity and beauty of the trees, plants and wildlife that abounds.