There was good news for two South Holland volunteer groups when the East Midlands in Bloom results were announced last week.
At the first time of asking, Spalding station was awarded a silver in a new category for transport hubs.
And Long Sutton continued its tradition of medal-winning with a silver in the small town category of the annual competition.
A record-breaking hot summer wasn’t what the garden groups wanted as it proved a very tough year – complete with a hosepipe ban.
But they persevered and Long Sutton, judged on July 6, has a silver award and the Judges’ Award went to the town’s Rainbow Nursery ‘for their inspiring methods of teaching children the origin of their food.’
The judges said Long Sutton in Bloom had been ‘beautifying the town for a number of years.’
“Long Sutton certainly has a steadfast community with lots of year-round activity from its members,” said the report after a visit in July.
“The judges were very impressed to hear of the 35 years of unbroken service by Kay Jenkinson, a founding member and leading light of Long Sutton in Bloom, and feel that such selfless dedication to her community should be highly commended.”
The Men’s Shed was also mentioned for the work its members have carried out in creating and maintaining planters and looking after the Long Sutton signs.
“When a community has such spirit that people continually over several decades come together actively to enhance the place in which they live, it quite rightly should be acknowledged and admired. Long Sutton is such a place and the enthusiasm and hard work of the current team of 24 people is borne out in their accomplishments.”
The Friends of Spalding Station also had cause to celebrate on achieving a medal in the inaugural year for a category specially for stations.
The judges highlighted the outside of the station.
“It is attractively decorated with numerous hanging baskets of predominantly pink, yellow and red trailing begonias,” said the report.
The judges acknowledged that the planted areas alongside Platform 2 were ‘more challenging to maintain’, specially with a lack of water.
“Significant efforts are clearly being made but this summer’s weather has not helped,” the report added.
See page 13 for Tulip Talk.
