The time has come: Friday, July 18, an important day for everyone here in Spalding to work together as the East Midlands in Bloom competition judges visit our town to assess it.
Many public spirited members of the community have tried their hardest to spruce the town up, arrange hanging baskets and colourful displays in the town centre planters all in a bid to continue Spalding’s winning ways.
Businesses have got together and tidied up their areas outside in the street, bought their baskets and got the streets looking cleaner than ever before.
With recent press reports highlighting petty vandalism and litter, there is no better time to demonstrate that our town can do better. It’s a chance for anyone with pride in our town to get out and help; maybe by litter picking or tidying of beds or simply a quick sweep of their business frontage.
The best Spalding has managed in recent years is a succession of silver gilt awards, one award below gold.
Last year, at a tense awards ceremony in Skegness, Spalding missed out on gold by just one point, we want to better that this year, gold is what we are looking for.
Over 100 hanging baskets have been put in place this year throughout the town as well as barrier baskets and tubs; Angela Newton and Jan Whitbourn are actively encouraging people to make that extra special effort this week to try to ensure that one of the UK centres of flower production attracts the top award this year.
Jan has organised young people from the NCS scheme to come in and tidy areas of Spalding that the judges are likely to view. These youngsters have in most cases just left school or further education and have decided that they would like to help their local community by volunteering to help in a community focussed activity and it is fortunate that Jan has secured their assistance this year.
Many pictures have been taken; we have persuaded many businesses to help with the brochure, a big thank you to Jim Harvey and all the employees in the environmental services at the South Holland District Council for concentrating on the banks, hedges and grass along the route, Laura on her presentation on recycling and litter, Julian of Welland Photo Services, Andy Boyton for all his help with this year’s brochure as well as the wonderful work in the gardens, Ayscoughfee for their help with the use of the gallery and Dan for showing us around gardens.
Well done to The Garth and The Priory Schools for the help in creating a great show for the judges with the students as hosts and a massive thank you to Dave Briggs and Ian Oliver for everything they did at the last minute in helping with the brochure, they both very kindly put it all together for us.
Without these unsung heroes a lot of this work would not have happened, without you we would not have such a fabulous looking town.
The Crescent have gone all out this year, have a ride down there and see the wonderful hanging baskets and a look at The Punchbowl i a must, you will sit amongst an array of beautiful plants set in many different guises.
Winning a gold medal is a very prestigious achievement and will help attract visitors to our town, please try and keep the frontage of your business clean and litter free, especially on July 18.
Residents are asked to join in and pick up any litter you see and if you live in or around the town centre, please make that extra effort to ensure the front of your property is bright, clean and attractive.
If the whole town can pull together with just a little bit more effort, we can win back that extra point to ensure gold for Spalding this year.
