Hard-working volunteers are hoping that enough has been done to be named best large town in East Midlands In Bloom this year.
After winning a gold award in 2015, but being pipped into third place by Belper and Market Harborough, hopes are high among Spalding In Bloom committee members for an even better outcome.
Chairman and South Holland district councillor Angela Newton said: “I am keeping my fingers crossed that we have done enough to retain the gold award.
“If we can help make Spalding look more inviting to visitors and shoppers, we will be happy.”
The judging takes many elements into account and this was reflected in the tour around the town.
District councillor Christine Lawton showed the two judges the lovely community garden at Nene Court, and Spotless Spalding members Coun Jack McLean and Eastern European tulip ambassador Gunita Sele demonstrated where the removal of graffiti from buildings and footbridges –in conjunction with Spalding firm PPM – had taken place beside the River Welland.
Coun Newton said: “I was extremely pleased that Gunita was able to meet the judges and explain that several of our migrant community do care about Spalding and wish to keep it tidy.”
The judges noted that Ayscoughfee Gardens were much better kept and more colourful than last year and indicated they thought the council did a lot of work to support energy conservation and encouraged recycling.
And they were said to be “enchanted” by pupils in St John the Baptist Primary School’s new allotment garden, where scarecrows were being made and there was planting to provide a wide selection of vegetables for use in the school canteen and for sale to parents.
Colourful displays of hanging baskets and planters by traders in Francis Street and The Crescent were noted as were flowerbeds tidied by The Friends of Spalding Station and the Holland Market flowerbed sponsored by EMG.
Meanwhile, at The Punch Bowl pub in New Road, the Williams family was proud to show off their very colourful and imaginative beer garden, and there was a surprise for one of the judges at Vernatt’s Nature Reserve.
Coun Newton said: “He was delighted to see a specific plant that he had read about, longed to see and there it was!”
Mr and Mrs Wing’s topiary garden in Park Avenue gained very complimentary remarks.
Coun Newton paid tribute to Spalding In Bloom members and all other volunteers for their year-round efforts.
