2012

Cultivating Pride in our Town

Contents

Page No. 1. Introduction 1 2. Achievements 2011-12 3

2.1. Horticultural Achievement (A) 2.1.1. Impact (A1) 2.1.2. Horticultural Practice (A2) 2.1.3. Residential and Community Gardening (A3) 2.1.4. Business Areas and Premises (A4) 2.1.5. Green Spaces (A5)

3 3 5 7

13 15

2.2. Environmental Responsibility (B) 2.2.1. Conservation and Biodiversity (B1) 2.2.2. Resource Management (B2) 2.2.3. Local Heritage (B3) 2.2.4. Local Environmental Quality (B4) 2.2.5. Pride of Place (B5)

17 17 20 20 21 22

2.3. Community participation 2.3.1. Development and Continuity (C1) 2.3.2. Communication and Education (C2) 2.3.3. Community Participation (C3) 2.3.4. Year-round Involvement (C4) 2.3.5. Funding and Support (C5)

23 23 23 23 26 26

3. Proposals July 2012 - June 2013 26 4. Sponsors, Supporters and Contacts 27

Above - Eynesbury Green (SNTC). 24/06/12

- 1 -

1. Introduction

A cold, dry winter, then a drought, followed by torrential rain! St Neots has had everything over the last few months which has been challenging to all concerned with providing floral displays and keeping the streets and open spaces tidy. However, St Neots in Bloom will hopefully be able to show off green grass for a change during the judges tour, supported by some delightful floral displays.

Abbreviations used throughout the document

HDC - Huntingdonshire District Council SNTC - St Neots Town Council ESCA - Eatons Community Association EVA - Eynesbury Village Association LFCA - Love's Farm Community Association

Judging area

The judging area for St Neots in Bloom covers the St Neots Town Council electoral wards of St Neots Eaton Socon, St Neots Eaton Ford, St Neots Priory Park, St Neots East and St Neots Eynesbury. Continued occupation of the developing Love's Farm housing estate in St Neots East ward, has brought the electoral role to 22,321.

(Ward boundaries are shown in pink)

Priory Park Ward (4422)

Eynesbury Ward (7358)

Eaton Ford Ward (5359)

Eaton Socon

Ward (4274)

East Ward (908)

- 2 -

Community

St Neots in Bloom continues to engage with the wider community. We have regular contact with the three main community groups, Eatons Community Association, Eynesbury Village Association and Love's Farm Community Association. We also maintain links with several 'Friends' groups and with our local schools. We chose not promote a colour theme for floral displays this year, as it was fairly obvious that red, white and blue would be the dominant colour combination around the town, which has proved to be the case. However, we agreed with St Neots Town Council to have red, white and blue predominating in the town centre floral displays in support of the Diamond Jubilee, but to include other colours elsewhere, to create more interest in the displays.

Committee for 2012

Officers: Chair - Alison Pearson (Chair of meetings, portfolio and route planning co-ordinator, media and promotions.) Vice-chairman - Tom McCormick (Local businessman and school governor) Hon. Treasurer until March 2012, then external book keeper - Mike Van de Kerkhove (Commercial Frontage Award judge). Hon. Secretary - Lin Buck (Schools liaison and photographer). Committee members: Katie Baldwin (Bpha's Community Officer at Love's Farm) Melvyn Curtis (Route planning.) Tina Drage (Luminus) Catherine Hutton (County and Town Councillor) Ian Webb (Commercial Frontage Award judge, photographer) Rini Patel (Love's Farm representative) Stuart Carter (Commercial Frontage Award judge) Allocated St Neots Town Councillor on the committee. May 2012 to May 2013 - Councillor Barry Chapman, St Neots Town Council Chairman and Mayor for 2012-13.

Above - Tiered planter at the Market Square (SNTC). 20/09/11

- 3 -

2. Achievements 2011 - 2012

2.1. Horticultural Achievement (A)

2.1.1. Impact (A1)

On the following pages are pictures of our wonderful local authority displays from late summer 2011 through to late spring 2012. The judges will be shown most of the summer displays during their tour of the town on 18th July, so they are not included here.

Late summer 2011

Left - Priory Centre courtyard (SNTC).

06/08/11

Right - Eynesbury Green (SNTC).

26/09/11

Left - Eaton Socon Green (SNTC).

20/08/11

Right - Cambridge Street displays (HDC).

26/09/11

- 4 -

Spring 2012

All the winter bedding struggled with the variety of weather that it had to cope with. Nevertheless, there were still lovely splashes of colour by early spring.

Left - St Neots Garden of Rest

(SNTC). 07/04/12

Right - Eaton Socon Green (SNTC).

14/03/12

Right - Entrance to Priory Park (HDC). 29/01/12

Left - Hanging baskets in the Market

Square (SNTC). 09/05/12

Left - Eaton Ford Green (SNTC). 07/04/12

- 5 -

2.1.2. Horticultural practice (A2)

Water become an issue this year. Both councils found solutions to the hosepipe ban, which enabled them to continue with planting out bedding displays and putting up hanging baskets. SNTC continues to have permission to extract water from the River Great Ouse for watering its displays. Heavy rain in early June hampered planting and caused severe water logging in Riverside Park.

HDC has introduced a new grass cutting policy for 2012, reducing amenity and residential area grass cuts to 10 a year from 14, and other less used areas to one cut a year. Biodiversity will benefit from this, but it remains to be seen whether it is acceptable to the general public.

Sustainable feed (pelleted chicken manure and blood, fish and bonemeal) has been used in the SNTC planting. Water retaining gel is usually added to hanging baskets, along with slow release feed. Regular inspection, dead heading and weeding of bedding displays is carried out by both councils. All SNTC planters have inbuilt water wells to reduce wastage.

SNTC refurbished its Jubilee Garden raised bed in time for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and is our nomination for a Special Award for a Drought/Sustainable Garden. Designed by St Neots in Bloom's Alison Pearson, with help from nurseryman John Banks, the new planting uses grasses mixed with herbaceous plants and a few shrubs, to reflect the meadows of St Neots Green Corridor. The site is usually sunny and relatively free draining. The old bark chip mulch was dug in along with pelleted chicken manure to improve the soil. A few plants were retained from the original planting whilst several others were replanted elsewhere . A topping of coarse gravel is designed to make weeding easier and retain moisture. Most of the flowering plants will also provide nectar and pollen for insects. The Geranium cantabrigiense cultivars were being used by bumblebees, solitary bees and honey bees shortly after they were planted!

Left - Jubilee Garden's raised bed before refurbishment. The conifers fell over shortly after this image was

taken. (SNTC). 20/09/11

Right - Council staff Replanting (SNTC). 09/05/12

- 6 -

St Neots Town Council covered the cost of the refurbishment, whilst St Neots in Bloom donated several plants. Alison Pearson volunteered time to the planting and is now employed on contract to maintain the garden.

Jubilee Garden has a complimentary bedding display, with a patriotic theme this year, along with several barrier baskets and tubs, which will be viewed on judging day.

The Memorial Garden at St Mary's Parish Church was another garden which had a sustainable makeover during the spring. Dry shade from a wall and large trees, prevented bedding from growing at the back of the Memorial Garden. Railway sleepers were used to create a slightly raised bed, covered in gravel, in which shrubs have been planted. The trees have also been pollarded.

Tree planting has continued in Priory Park with the support of the Priory Park Friends Group - see Section 2.3.3 for more details. Commemorative trees have also been planted around the area including an Alder at Coneygeare.

Left - Ian and George recovering from helping to move and spread several

tonnes of gravel (SNTC). 22/05/12

Right - The finished garden (SNTC). 22/05/12

Above - Commemorative Alder

planting at Coneygeare. 23/03/12

Above - New raised bed at Parish

Church Memorial Garden. 28/05/12

- 7 -

2.1.3. Residential and Community Gardening (A3)

Allotments and community gardening

Rowley Allotments in Mill Lane held its annual open day on 23rd July 2011. This popular event was well attended as usual, with the added attractions of folk dancing and a scarecrow display.

For the second year running, St Neots in Bloom sponsored the Floral Art category for the St Neots and District Gardening Club's Annual Show in August 2011, to raise awareness of the campaign. The club's principle aim is to improve the horticultural skills of its members. We are sponsoring the same show category this year.

Above and left - Scarecrow, companion planting and the ever popular tea and cakes at Rowley Allotments Open Day. 23/07/11

Left - Winner of the 'Moonlight' category 11/08/11 Above right - Visitors and produce 11/08/11 Right - Show sponsors 11/08/11

- 8 -

Private gardens

St Neots in Bloom has continued to encourage private gardeners to take care of their front gardens, through its Best Front Garden competition. The top three from 2011 were presented with their prizes and certificates on 2nd August. This years judging will take place in early July.

Above and right - 1st

prize for Priscilla Gale and her amazing front

garden. 02/08/11

Left and below - 2nd

prize for Stan Richards imaginative use of vegetables and pots in a tiny space. 02/08/11

Above and right - 3rd

prize for Barbara and Ray Braybrook's cottage garden style planting. 02/08/11

- 9 -

ESCA encourages local gardeners to share their enthusiasm by holding an annual Open Gardens event to raise money for charity. This year's event took place on 24th June, as part of a weekend of events celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the rededication of St Mary's Church, Eaton Socon. The Church hosted a Flower Festival, indoor hog roast and bouncy castle!

Right & far right - Flower Festival and hog roast in St Mary's Church. 24/06/12

Above - Sue Jarrett selling programmes for the Open Gardens. 25/04/12 Right (3 pictures) - Two of the Open Gardens including

Crosshall Manor. 24/06/12

Left - A private garden in Peppercorns Lane, Eaton Socon. 24/06/12

- 10 -

Public areas

Above - War Memorial at St Mary's Church, Eynesbury (SNTC). 15/03/12 Right - Summer planting at the same

Memorial. 24/06/12

Above - Late summer colour at the War Memorial at Eaton Socon Green (SNTC). 20/08/11

Above - Blossom time at Eaton Socon

Green (SNTC). 14/03/12

Above - Late summer

colour. 26/09/11

Above - Spring colour in the Memorial Garden. 15/03/12 Left - Crocuses donated by a local parishioner. 15/03/12

St Mary's Parish Church, St Neots (SNTC).

- 11 -

School grounds

St Neots in Bloom's school's liaison, Lin Buck, has continued to maintain link with our schools. As well as producing a newsletter 2-3 times a year, she also helped co-ordinate the 'Jubilee Garden on a Plate' event (See section 2.3.3). Here are some of the things our schools have been up to during the last year.

Priory Park Infant School pupils are still growing vegetables and have taken cuttings from the willow to make another willow dome. They have a bug hotel which fascinates the children. They have grown rhubarb this year and enjoyed the crumble they made. They still have their Eco Schools Award. Eynesbury C of E Primary School was one of three finalists in HDC's Green Heart Awards this year. They have planted eight fruit trees since last year and class- planters have all been redesigned and planted by the children. Children at Bushmead Primary School have been involved in the 80th Year Celebration

Left - Eynesbury Cemetery (SNTC). 24/06/12

Right - Permanent planting in St Neots new Grass Cemetery (SNTC). 03/03/12

Left & above - Self-sown Sedum acre in Eynesbury cemetery, something we want to encourage for insects such as this Red-tailed Bumblebee

(SNTC). 25/04/12

- 12 -

for the local church as well as continuing their gardening activities. Each class has planted up containers to decorate the outside of the building. A wildflower meadow is flourishing at Middlefield Primary School and more planters have been put into the front of the school.

A new front garden is being designed at Apricot Nursery, including a sensory garden with lots of different textures, smells and colours to stimulate the children. They have a plastic greenhouse which is used for small seedlings. There are new raised beds at Montagu Square Nursery, with sunflowers, onions and mixed flowers growing in them, whilst at Little Acorns Pre School, they have replanted their garden to include blackberry bushes and strawberries, as well as tyres and tubs with some bedding plants in. They are working with the nearby Academy pupils to help to clear an overgrown herb patch. The local B&Q store has helped Orchards Day Nursery by providing lots of vegetable seeds and planters. They have carrots, beetroot, onions, potatoes, runner beans and radishes which the children are tending and then eating. They have planted up tyres with plants to encourage butterflies and bees. Following a successful harvest last year, Priory Park Playgroup are growing, peas, potatoes, carrots, beetroot, radishes, courgettes and have started to grow some tomatoes. They have pansies and lavender too. A mini greenhouse has helped to establish seedlings before they are planted out and netting is protecting plants in the raised beds from rabbits. Gardening equipment has been bought with Morrisons Store's vouchers.

Car parks

Riverside Park car park had its drains repaired followed by a complete resurfacing during early 2012. Broken trees were replaced along with plants which had died after last summer's dry weather.

Coneygeare car park, also maintained by HDC, has a lovely permanent planting area which continues to flourish. Regular mulches of wood chippings recycled from other sites, helps to keep moisture in and weeds down.

The same approach of regular wood chipping is used on shrubs beds in car parks at Tan Yard, St Anselm Place and Tebbutts Road. The latter also has several small bedding display which add a splash of colour. Annuals are also planted around the copper beech in the raised bed at Priory Lane car park.

Above - Imaginative use of old tyres to make Olympic rings, planted by the children at

Treetops Nursery. 15/06/12

Above -Harvest time at Priory Park Play Group. 17/10/11

Right - getting to grips with the apple press on loan from Friends of Sudbury Meadow. 17/10/11

- 13 -

2.1.4. Business Areas and Premises (A4)

St Neots in Bloom's annual Commercial Frontage Awards (baskets and containers) has continued to encourage businesses to enhance the public areas of their premises. Winner in 2011 was the Waggon and Horses pub, with a stunning display. The pub's winter display was also good.

Left - Coneygeare car park

planting (HDC). 24/06/12

Above - Part of a stunning display at the Waggon and Horses last summer. 20/08/11 Right - Winter displays at the Waggon and Horses. 05/04/12

Left - Priory Lane car park (HDC), spring wallflowers. 12/02/12 Right- Shrub planting at Riverside Park car park (HDC). 23/04/12

- 14 -

Above - Winter baskets at the

Pig n Falcon. 29/02/12

Above and Right - Winter display at the

Eaton Oak. 14/03/12

Above - Winter baskets at the Priory Centre. 20/03/12

Right - Winter display at the Ambiance Café, Riverside park. 15/03/12

Above - Summer colour at the Priory Centre last year. 06/08/12

- 15 -

2.1.5. Green Spaces (A5)

St Neots has two major public park areas, Riverside Park and Priory Park. Both are maintained by HDC. Priory Park is supported by the Priory Park Friends' Group (PPFG), set up in 2010. The group's principle aim is "To protect and enhance the Park as an open, green space for the enjoyment of all." This includes promoting biodiversity and the park's history. Over the last twelve months PPFG set out to improve the opportunities for wildlife and make parts of the park more easily accessible and pleasant to use. As a result St Neots in Bloom is nominating their work for a Special Award for Best Community Project.

Here are details of just some of the things the group has achieved.

In December 2011 a work party assisted H.D.C. staff in planting and staking 10 large evergreen conifers. This was followed in January 2012 by volunteers planting mixed hedging whips in an area bordering Huntingdon Street.

PPFG is currently working with local Junior and Infant schools to create a Nature/Heritage Trail that they can use with their teachers to undertake Nature Study, local history, photography etc. Many more plans are in the pipeline, which will be explained to the judges on their visit to Priory Park.

Riverside Park continues to be well used, with a large car park and popular café adding to the attractions. More long grass areas have been created this year, mainly due to budget cuts. However, they will be good for wildlife and it was lovely to see so many buttercups flowering this year. Regatta Meadow in the north was the venue for large-scale Diamond Jubilee celebrations, but sadly became waterlogged by the end of the bank holiday, which is continuing. Neither repairs caused by heavy vehicles sinking in or grass cutting has been possible during most of June.

Left - In November 2011 volunteers erected 2 Tawny Owl boxes, 2 Bat Colony Boxes, 2 Robin Boxes and 4 Tit boxes to supplement the 10 Tit boxes erected in November 2010.

11/11.

Right - 26 volunteers, including children, turned up and undertook a Park Spring Clean. 26 bags of assorted litter were picked and subsequently collected by H.D.C. for

disposal. 05/05/12

Right - A Jubilee Bench was installed near the zip wire and play area, at the request of parents who regularly use the play area. Funding was obtained from Waitrose Community Matters. June 2012

Left - Volunteers began woodchipping the muddy, woodland footpath linking Rowley Road with the southern play area. 08/04/12

- 16 -

A number of the roadside verges in St Neots have been planted with daffodils. ESCA regularly has planting sessions and HDC has planted bulbs along Cambridge Street and in a number of public spaces, including Coneygeare, Riverside Park and Priory Park.

Above- Buttercups in bloom in Regatta Meadow. 18/05/12

Below - Crowds in Regatta Meadow enjoying the Diamond Jubilee Duck Race!

02/06/12

Above - Riverside Park in May's sunshine. 28/05/12

Above - Daffodils along Cambridge Street. (HDC) 01/03/12

- 17 -

2.2. Environmental Responsibility (B)

2.2.1. Biodiversity and Conservation (B1)

St Neots in Bloom has been championing wildlife conservation ever since it formed.

During 2011-2012 Swifts became the focus of attention at the former ATS Tyres site in Brook Street, where historical buildings are undergoing redevelopment. The site was identified as a key swift breeding site in the town in 2004, during a pilot RSPB swift recording scheme in St Neots, which Alison Pearson helped with. Since then she has kept an eye on the site and was able to encourage positive action for the swifts whilst working for HDC as Green Corridor Officer, when the site was sold to Callisto Homes in September 2010. After positive communications between Alison, Callisto Homes, 'Swift Conservation', 'Action for Swifts' and HDC planners, everything went quiet between April 2011 and March 2012, when a concerned member of the public alerted Edward Mayer at 'Swift Conservation' of scaffolding going up on site. What happened next is being put forward for a Special Award for Best Conservation Project.

Alison contacted site owner, Marcus de Figueiredo, arranging for Bill Murrells of 'Action for Swifts, and herself to visit the site on 26th April. Swifts are very loyal to their nest sites, so it became a race against time and weather, with the swifts due to arrive back from Africa around 8th May, to provide new nest sites under the new slate roof. Bill swung into action with fellow swift enthusiast Dick Newell, and at their own cost (subsequently covered with a £150 donation from SNIB), provided 12 purpose-made nest boxes to fit the gable end of the warehouse and blend with the historical brickwork. Most were installed on 3rd May and completed by 11th May. Meanwhile, Dick arranged for a CD of swift calls to be played from the nest boxes he had installed in the adjacent Church tower in 2010 to try to attract disturbed swifts to this new site. The swifts arrived late, due to bad weather, but no one expected what happened next. Having folded down the netting in front of the boxes, Marcus was delighted to watch 2-3 pairs of swifts, diving between the horizontal scaffold poles to enter the boxes! We hope the judges may see this too!.

The Meadows of St Neots' Green Corridor, include Barford Road Pocket Park at the southern end of town. It is owned by HDC and managed by Countryside Service Ranger, Matt Hall with a small team of volunteers. The site is a magnet for birds and butterflies, and reptiles, particularly lizards. Earlier this year, new log piles were added to the site and also a new bird viewing hide made from woven willow. This magnificent structure with seat and bird identification panels will encourage visitors to learn more about their local wildlife.

Above - Bill and Marcus discussing the options for nest boxes. The old nests are visible on top of the wall. 26/04/12

Above - A neat solution!

09/05/12

Above - Barge board in place and netting rolled down, enabling swifts to inspect the boxes. 18/05/12

- 18 -

Islands Common and The Pightle Millennium Green continue to flourish with wildflowers attracting insects and birds as well as small mammals. The Pightle has seen some extensive pathway clearance to make it more inviting to people. Funding bids are underway to finance more habitat management and provide new information boards for those people entering from the new Willow Bridge footpath.

St Neots' largest area of wet woodland, Eynesbury Osiers, continues to support a wide variety of flora and fauna. A hedgerow planted in 2010 was freed from cleavers and other vegetation by St Neots in Bloom's Melvyn Curtis this spring and we look forward to it maturing to provide new nesting opportunities for birds.

Highlight of the last twelve months at Sudbury Meadow was receiving the only Green Flag Community Award in Huntingdonshire!

The site is our nomination for a Special Award for Biodiversity. The site continues to support a wide variety of flora and fauna including six UK Biodiversity Action Plan species; Dunnock, House Sparrow, Song Thrush, Starling, Toad and Grass snake.

Around 320 volunteer hours have gone into the site since July 2011. Friends of Sudbury Meadow has been assisted by HDC Ranger, Matt Hall and his Paxton Pits volunteers on several occasions.

Sudbury Meadow continues to bring benefits for local wildlife and the community in many ways.

Barford Road Pocket Park

Left - From a pile of cuttings (21/01/12)

Right - To the finished hide, with woodchip footpath (15/04/12).

Below - New habitat pile. 10/03/12

Above - The Pightle in spring. 26/05/12

Above - Green Flag Community Award celebrations, with civic dignitaries. 30/07/12

- 19 -

Nest boxes provided homes for Tree Bumblebees last year as well as two families of great tits and one of blue tits in 2012.

Boundary and garden hedgerows are maintained for wildlife with minimal cutting during the summer.

The shrubbery is now being selectively coppiced to provide shrubs of different sizes. Last winter its guelder rose berries provided food for a flock of 9 bullfinches and several song thrushes as well as an unknown number of voles and mice.

Following the success of log and branch piles for grass snakes, a pile of grass cutting from the orchard was deliberately left to rot down on the edge of the shrubbery last autumn. Huge excitement on 20th June this year when at least 2 snakes were seen in it for the first time. It is egg-laying time so fingers crossed. Another snake was also seen on the adjacent log pile.

The three wildlife-friendly gardens continue to provide ideas for improving biodiversity in domestic gardens and are much appreciated by visitors.

Above - Start of Bird Garden refurbishment, after experiments with native flora failed to have the desired results! 14/04/12

Right - Grass snake in new vegetation pile. 20/06/12

Above - Home grown insect-attracting annuals newly planted in Bird Garden. 20/06/12

Right - herbs for insects! Spring in the redesigned Butterfly Garden. 18/05/12

An article in ESCAN (ESCA newsletter) about the solitary bee boxes has prompted at least one person to put one up their own nestbox this year.

Left - Mining bees using one of the nest boxes. 12/05/12

- 20 -

A new main notice board, funded by St Neots Town Council, enabled volunteer, Barrie Rowland to refurbish the old one. It now has lots of information about the orchard.

The chance to be close to nature, either by visiting or volunteering, is helping people cope with all sorts of personal problems.

2.2.2. Resource Management (B2)

Huntingdonshire as a whole continues to excel in its recycling efforts. During 2011-12, 57.09% of waste throughout the District was recycled. 26.86% was dry recycling, including glass, (18255 tonnes), 30.23% was garden waste (20550 tonnes). Due to the increased scope of kerbside collection, recycling banks in public places are limited to clothing, media and several WEEE banks. ESCA has a Community Textile Bank outside Tesco Express in Eaton Socon, using funds raised to help local community groups.

St Neots Recycling Centre off Cromwell Road, run by Cambs. County Council, takes a huge range of household waste for recycling, including videos, electrical goods and chemicals.

Both local authorities recycle their green waste from bedding and basket displays. Grass cuttings are cut finely and left to break down in situ. HDC chips its woody waste and recycles it for paths as well as leaving it for members of the public to collect at strategic places in the District (see Priory Park, Section 2.1.5).

St Neots Town Council uses gravel mulch around permanent planting to conserve moisture and discourage weeds. HDC use wood chips for the same purpose. Plastic hanging baskets and planters have water reservoirs to limit run-off.

2.2.3. Local Heritage (B3)

A new river crossing between Eaton Socon and Eynesbury may seem unrelated to heritage, but on the Eynesbury side of Willow Bridge there is a Portrait bench. It depicts life-size sculptures of the Eynesbury Giant, Cecil Paget on his bike and a child playing cricket, all associated with local history.

May Day was wet and pretty cold, but community minded residents still turned out to support the annual festivities. Sue Jarrett from ESCA, not only co-ordinated the whole

Above - Portrait bench at Willow Bridge. 27/05/12

Above - Refurbished notice board with orchard information. 18/05/12

Above - female Common Blue butterfly. 09/06/12

- 21 -

event, but also created a stunning display of historical pictures and information in St Mary's Church, as part of the celebrations. Sue has now produced the 26th local history booklet for the Eatons, 'The Eatons Then and Now'. She also helps maintain St Neots Community Archive in conjunction with other local historians and St Neots Museum.

2.2.4. Local Environmental Quality (B4)

Maintaining street cleanliness, controlling dog fouling, removing graffiti on public items and removing fly-posting is largely the responsibility of HDC. Street cleansing in the town centre is carried out Monday-Friday by a full time employee. St Neots in Bloom encourages residents and businesses to clean up their frontages, through press releases and annual competitions. St Neots Town Council litter picks and empties waste bins at least once a week throughout its sites, with popular sites having two clean-ups.

Volunteers from St Neots in Bloom and Friends of Sudbury Meadow as well as other groups, joined HDC Ranger Matt Hall on a litter pick on 16th February 2012. The target was the main public footpath from Barford Road to Barford Road Pocket Park, which runs between a housing estate and Ernulf Academy. After a morning's work the result was impressive, although not a good advertisement for the habits of the people who regularly use the footpath!

Community groups around the town carry out litter picks in a bid to improve their local areas. EVA and St Neots in Bloom were involved with the organisation of a Community Action Day in Eynesbury on 28th April, designed to clean up several public footpaths leading from the Coneygeare car park. HDC and social housing group Luminus co-

Above - 'Then and Now' Local History Exhibition at St Mary's Church,

Eaton Socon. 07/05/12

Above - Before and after the litter pick behind Ernulf Academy. 16/02/12

- 22 -

ordinated the event, but many of the activities had to be cancelled due to heavy rain and cold temperatures. Litter was still collected by a small number of brave and hardy people!

Love's Farm Community Association held monthly litter picks during autumn 2011 and followed this up with a giant Spring Clean on 21st April 2012. Another was scheduled for 23rd June in preparation for a 'Big Lunch' picnic.

2.2.5. Pride of Place (B5)

Continuing dialogue between St Neots in Bloom, The Rotary Club of St Neots and Cambs. County Council, has resulted in a new graffiti art panel on the side of the Town River Bridge. The panel was funded by The Rotary Club of St Neots and painted by Jonnie Barton of Kosha Creations. It matches the panel at Jubilee Garden which Jonnie did several years ago. Cambridgeshire County Council has also confirmed that it will be replacing the decaying limestone cladding of the bridge and painting the parapet railings, from late July 2012.

St Neots in Bloom's Alison Pearson and Lin Buck, joined Town Centre Manager, Katie Williams and representatives from the Town Centre Initiative's Promotion and Tourism group, in a visual assessment of the footpath from Riverside Park into the Market Square, on a very cold day in December 2011. A number of issues were raised, such as notice boards which could be better used, unkempt areas around the river bridge and the poor state of the bridge itself. As mentioned above, the bridge is about to be refurbished after extensive structural repairs to the under side. The Promotion and Tourism group has taken over several old HDC notice boards and put in new promotional posters. Efforts are still ongoing by St Neots in Bloom to establish responsibility for maintaining certain areas around the bridge.

Above - New graffiti art panel on St

Neots River Bridge. 01/09/12

Above - Litter pick results at Love's Farm. 21/04/12

Above left - New promotional poster in board which will be re-branded in the coming months. 05/12/11 Above right - Visual assessment underway! 05/12/11

- 23 -

2.3. Community Participation (C)

2.3.1. Development and Continuity (C1)

As a fully constituted, voluntary group, St Neots in Bloom is dependent on the good will and time of its elected committee. By holding an open AGM every year, there is an opportunity for new people to join and community ideas to be gathered. The campaign focuses on promoting and supporting the initiatives of other groups, rather than creating duplicates, which ensures the continuity of projects. Its own projects are only developed if they are sustainable, either financially or in-kind.

2.3.2. Communication and Education (C2)

St Neots in Bloom has continued to promote its campaign over the last twelve months. Press coverage has been reasonably good (our Media Folder will be available for the judges' tour) and the local website, Aboutmyarea.co.uk/PE19, has helped promote the campaign. Articles have also been included on Love's Farm Community Association's website.

Articles promoting the campaign have been published in 'ESCAN' (Eatons Community Association Newsletter), along with 'Priorities' (St Neots Town Centre Management newsletter with distribution of 18,000) and 'Lovely Moon' (distribution 13,000). Unfortunately the last two ceased publication in 2012. All schools have been kept up-to-date through mail shots, e-mail and phone calls from our schools liaison, Lin Buck.

St Neots and District Gardening Club has invited St Neots in Bloom to its open evening on 28th June. Lin Buck and Alison Pearson will be giving an overview of the 'In Bloom' campaign and promoting the Best Front garden competition. We will also be sponsoring the club's Floral Art category at its annual show on 11th August, to help raise awareness of our campaign.

Alison Pearson continues to represent St Neots in Bloom at the Town Centre Initiative's Redevelopment and Environment Group. She also provides information for its Promotion and Tourism group, attending meetings when appropriate. This contact was one of the proposals in our 2011 portfolio.

2.3.3. Community Involvement (C3)

Eynesbury resident, Tara Skey, contacted St Neots in Bloom with the offer of surplus seeds for our use. These were distributed to locals during the Diamond Jubilee Floral Display on 3rd June (see below). Tara has also adopted a strip of HDC land between her house and a public footpath. She has filled it with annuals and a few perennials which provide colour and extra food for wildlife.

Left - Tara and Lin Buck (SNIB) discussing plants in the adopted plot. 29/02/12 Right - Late spring colour. 14/06/12

Right - A wall in the Priory Centre café has been set aside for St Neots in Bloom certificates and trophies, providing permanent

publicity for the campaign. 26/01/12

- 24 -

ESCA has continued its environment improvements in a number of places within the Eatons. At The Pightle Millennium Green, it organised the planting of 300 woodland bulbs under trees and shrubs. At St Mary's Churchyard the local Brownies helped plant shrubs and bulbs which ESCA provided and on the approach to the new Willow Bridge over the River Great Ouse, Esca planted daffodils and scattered poppy seeds.

Brian Payne received another Neighbourhood Award in 2011 for his continuing efforts to keep roads close to his home tidy and the green space opposite his house, colourful. Old Market Court residents also received a Neighbourhood Award for helping to keep the gardens looking so beautiful around their apartments.

St Neots in Bloom has continued to encourage private gardeners to take care of their front gardens, through its Best Front Garden competition. The top three from 2011 were presented with their prizes and certificates on 2nd August 2011, by St Neots Mayor, Barry Chapman.

Above - 1st prize for Priscilla Gale and her amazing front garden. 02/08/11

Left and right - 2nd

prize for Stan Richards imaginative use of vegetables and pots in a tiny

space. 02/08/11

Above - Tom McCormick presenting Brian (left) with his award and Old Market Court representatives (right), Yvonne and Noreen with their award. 14/11/11

- 25 -

Despite moving house this year, St Neots in Bloom's gardening volunteer, Christine Elmes, has continued to maintain the Andy Newbury Memorial Garden at St Neots Police Station. This garden is not open to the public, but is very much appreciated by the police men and women at the station, who are able to enjoy a few minutes relaxation in the garden during their busy working day.

St Neots in Bloom joined in SNTC's Diamond Jubilee celebrations by taking part in the Floral Display in the Priory Centre on 2nd June. We invited pre-schools and primary schools to submit a 'Jubilee Garden on a Plate' to display at the event. Seven plates and two display boards were collected and displayed along with our information board. Mayor and Mayoress, Barry and Lindsay Chapman, kindly picked out their favourite garden, by Priory Park Infants school. All participants received gardening books and a pack of seeds, as a thank you for taking part.

Above and right - 3rd

prize for Barbara and Ray Braybrook's cottage garden style planting.

02/08/11

St Neots in Bloom's stand at the Jubilee Floral Display. Right - Mayor's favourite garden. 02/06/12

- 26 -

2.3.4. Year-Round Involvement (C4)

St Neots in Bloom has maintained year-round interest in the campaign through press releases, articles and its annual competitions and awards, as detailed throughout this portfolio. A display of publicity items will be available for the judges to see after their tour.

2.3.5. Funding and Support (C5)

Through careful financial management, St Neots in Bloom has not needed to fundraise to a great extent again this year.

Waitrose has supported St Neots in Bloom by sponsoring 24 lamppost advertising inserts for £450. A team from its staff will carrying out litter picks around the store and be volunteering at Sudbury Meadow as part of Waitrose's Partnership Volunteering initiative, running until October.

Roundabout maintenance - the large roundabouts on the A428 are maintained by the Highways Agency, but sponsorship is co-ordinated by St Neots Town Centre Management Group. Chairman John Davies, continues to support St Neots in Bloom using his cross-county contacts to help ensure they continue to be maintained to a good standard.

St Neots Town Council - Funded entry to Anglia in Bloom, hanging baskets, bedding displays and the refurbishment of Jubilee Garden. Its grounds maintenance team continues to work hard keeping their grounds clean, tidy and cared for, supporting our campaign wherever possible.

Huntingdonshire District Council staff continue to support the In Bloom campaign through bedding displays, street cleansing and public park maintenance. Reduced budgets and staff has meant that 2012 is more challenging than previous years. HDC Countryside Service Rangers have also helped, supporting litter picks around the town, maintaining key wildlife sites and helping to provide new open space information boards which should be in place by the end of 2012.

3. Proposals July 2012 - June 2013

Continue to work with local authorities to maintain public floral displays through the coming year whilst coping with budget cut-backs.

Take forward an idea to incorporate mixed sedums in the old cemeteries, to boost biodiversity and improve the visual impact.

Continue to support local biodiversity where ever possible.

Continue to have an input to the development and offer of St Neots through several Town Centre Initiative sub-groups.

Above - Cambs. County Council maintained roundabout

in Eynesbury, funded by sponsorship. 24/06/12

- 27 -

4. Sponsors, Supporters and Contacts

Sponsors and supporters

(Financial and in-kind)

Huntingdonshire District Council.

St Neots Town Council.

Waitrose.

Old Market Court residents and manager.

Luminus.

Bpha (Bedford Pilgrims Housing Association).

St Neots Town Centre Management Group and Green Corridor Project.

John Banks, HFR Banks and Son (Best Front Garden Judge and promoter).

Di Jarvis, Garden Design and Maintenance (Best Front Garden Judge).

Christine Elmes (Best Front Garden Judge, volunteer at Police Memorial Garden).

St Neots and District Angling Society.

ESCA (Eaton's Community Association) and Chairman, Sue Jarrett.

EVA (Eynesbury Village Association).

Love's Farm Community Association.

Shirley Dickinson (Media Archive).

Fishers Store.

Hamiltons Greengrocers.

Friends of Sudbury Meadow.

Cambridgeshire County Council Highways.

Environment Agency.

Ted Bruning, editor of 'Lovely Moon' magazine.

Editors of 'Priorities' newsletter.

PE19 website.

St Neots and District Gardening Club

Above - Cistus at Montagu Square. 24/06/12

- 28 -

St Neots in Bloom Contacts

Lin Buck - Hon. Secretary

4 Clover Road, Eaton Socon, St Neots, PE19 7HD

Tel: 01480 383381

Email: Lin.buck@ntlworld.com

Alison Pearson - Chairperson

4 Kipling Place, Eaton Ford, St Neots. PE19 7RG

Tel: 01480 374792

Mob: 07771 712934

Email: Alison.pearson@dpconsultant.co.uk

Tom McCormick - Vice-chairman

Mob: 07900 337675

Cultivating Pride in our Town

Above - Eynesbury Green (SNTC). 24/06/12