Filby in Bloom 2016...Filby in Bloom 2016 Page 2 Item Section Page B - Environmental Responsibility...

Filby in Bloom 2016

Village Portfolio

Filby in Bloom 2016

Item

Sect

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Page

B - Environmental Responsibility

Trinity Broads A5, B1, B3, 19Village Pond B1, B3

20Wildlife Area

B1

Ormesby Little Broad Viewing Platform & WalkwayNorfolk Wildlife Trust’s Living Landscapes Project 21Nest BoxesDomestic Waste Recycling

B2

22Plant and Compost Recycling

23

Garden Waste CompostingPeat Usage ReductionMulchingChemical TreatmentsInformation Boards B3, B5Cleanliness B4Welcome Signs

B5

24Street Furniture Watering A2Other Activies B2, B4, B5

Filby In Bloom’s Accounts C5

C - Community Participation

The Press

C2

25The Filby FlyerLocal Radio & TelevisionFilby on the Web

26

Other Means of PublicityBIDQuiz Night C5Open Gardens Weekend C3, C4, C5Grand Fete C4Grand Firework Display

C4,C5

27

Christmas BazaarEaster Bonanza

C4“My Year in the Life of the “ Saturday Crew””Branded ProductsSponsorship C5Filby Primary School C3 28“Notes from a Foreigner from Over the Hill” C4 29

The Future C1 30

Item

Sect

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Page

Cover 1Contents 2Village Map 3Introduction Filby in Bloom 4

Filby in Bloom’s Year

Filby’s New Village Hall C15

Anglia in Bloom Judging Day C3, C4Open Gardens Weekend C3, C4, C5

6Britain In Bloom Judging Day C3, C4

August Bank Holiday Weekend C4 C5,

7Anglia in Bloom Awards Ceremony

C4Yarmouth in Bloom Awards CeremonyBritain in Bloom Awards CeremonyVillage Hall Official Opening

C4, C58Grand Firework Display

Anglia in Bloom Seminar C4Christmas Bazaar

C4, C59

Filby in Bloom Coffee MorningsEaster Bonanza

Gardening Club

A - Horticultural Achievement

Spring & Summer Activity

A1, A2

10Autumn and Winter ActivityGrowing-on Facilities

11Planning for Summer DisplaysKings Head Bed

12Barrels and PlantersVillage Pound

A1, A2, A3, B3

13Club Room Garden 14Village Hall Garden

15Queen’s Golden Jubilee BedThrigby Road Corner Bed

A1, A2

16A Broads InfluenceBusiness Premises A4Residential Gardens A3, C3Tree Planting

A1, A2Hedge Planting

17Allotments A3Wildflower Planting A1, A2, A5Rotary Crocus Beds A1, A3

18Community Orchard A5, B1

Contents

Village photographs in this Portfolio are from Tom Green, Gwen

Thurtle, Kate Foster, Keith & Leslie Johnson, Ken & Joan Saul

and Derek & Caroline Nicker. Some Broads images are from the

Norfolk Broads Authority archives. Scans from the local papers

are reproduced by kind permission of Archant Newspapers.

The contributions from Ken Saul (Nest Boxes), Joan Saul (Wildlife Garden) Caroline Nicker (Planters & Club Room Garden) Kate Foster (Pound & Queen’s Jubilee Bed) Keith Johnson (Orchard), Nick Dawes (Notes from a Foreigner from Over the Hill), Gwen Thurtle (My year in the life of “The Saturday Crew”), Eilish Rothney (NWT) and Wendy Yassin (Gardening at Filby Primary School) are appreciated.

Filby in Bloom 2016

Village Map

Ormesby Lane

Mautby Lane

Thrigby Road

Pound Lane

Green Lane

Mill Lane

Poplar DrivePaddock

Farm Drive

Filby Close

Church Lane

York Villa Close

Broad Lane

Filby Broad Main Road

A1064

Boardwalk

Staithe Kings Head P.H.

The PoundThrigby Road CornerAllotmentsUnitarian Site

Club Room

Ken Martin Memorial

FEPOW MemorialFilby Broad

Filby Bridge Restaurant

Village HallBowls Club

Bus Shelter Water FeaturePlaying FieldMillennium Clock

Wildlife Area

Primary School

Jam Shed

Village Pond

Village SignParish Church

Orchard

Ormesby Little Broad

Clay Pits

Shop & P.O.

Filby in Bloom 2016

Introduction

Filby in Bloom

The village of Filby is situated on the edge of the Norfolk Broads, between Filby Broad and Ormesby Little Broad, some 6 miles north-west of Great Yarmouth and 16 miles east of the city of Norwich. The parish has an area of a little over 2.2 square miles (543 acres) and, in the 2001 census, it had a population of 740 in some 308 households. Essentially agricultural in character, until the late 1950s Filby was known for its market gardens. Astride the busy A1064, the village has now become an attractive base for commuters, to both Great Yarmouth and Norwich. The village entered Anglia in Bloom, for the first time, in 1995, had its first success in 1997 and has participated in the event every year since. All involved do so to make Filby a better place in which to live, for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Everyone makes a contribution in the best way that they can. There is no formal ‘In-Bloom’ committee, as such. Instead, everyone has a say in the planning. A Chairperson and Secretary are elected for the purpose of those meetings that are held but all participate in the discussions and everyone has an equal vote. Team work is evident throughout the organisation of the many schemes and projects that run every year, to which so many of the residents willingly give their time. Every Saturday morning, a small team is assembled to conduct all necessary clearing, cleaning, planting and other sundry tasks to ensure that the village stays in great shape. Individuals often initiate their own projects and the sheer number and variety of the tasks undertaken demonstrate the innovation within the village. Its enthusiasm for the In-Bloom competitions and for the overall improvement to the fabric of the neighbourhood, in general, is self-evident.Filby is well known throughout the area as ‘The Flower Village’ and the media pay close attention to activities in the Parish, which are also publicised in a monthly newsletter, the Filby Flyer. Fundraising is a year round activity. A regular income is derived from the collection of recyclables and sponsors are attracted from local businesses. Villagers participate in regular events that raise money for the horticultural front. These include popular quiz nights at a local restaurant, coffee mornings, an Open Gardens Weekend and the Annual Fete. There really is a great community effort, well demonstrated by the projects described within this portfolio. Filby in Bloom is, indeed, “a lovely place to be”.Current members of the In-Bloom team are listed here but they are ably assisted, on a regular basis, and in a variety of different roles, by other village residents, too numerous to mention.Filby in Bloom’s accounts for 2014 / 2015 are available on page 25.

The Team Key Tasks

Adrian Thompson Chairman, planting, potting on and watering

Paddy Hudson Secretary

Joy Baldry Potting on & planting

Jenny Barnes & Tony Elms Fund raising quizzes and special evenings

Peter Chapman Water feature maintenance and litter

Nick Dawes Planting & potting on

Amanda Dobson Planting

Barry Forsdyke Planning and potting on

Kate Foster Potting on, planting & maintenance

Les Futter Orchard & Wildlife Garden

Mervyn & Sandra Gibson Planting, potting on & maintenance, use of greenhouse

Tom Green Display design, planting

Percy Hudson Floral displays, strimming and maintenance, potting on

Caroline Nicker Club Room Project, planting & potting on

Derek Nicker Portfolio & Press Officer

Jeroen Reuvekamp Planting & potting on, maintenance

Ian Richardson Planting & potting on, maintenance

Joan Saul Orchard, Wildlife Garden

Ken Saul Nest Boxes

David Shaw Planting, potting on and maintenance

Rev. Graham Steel Planting & potting on

David Thompson MBE Planting, potting on & watering

Jenny Thompson Fundraising

Gwen Thurtle Potting on, planting & maintenance

Victor Tungate Orchard

Gordon & Margery Ward Planning & displays

Local Map

Tidying Up (4th April 2016)

Filby in Bloom 2016

Filby in Bloom’s Year

Filby’s New Village Hall - C1

No document, focusing on Filby, can ignore the biggest event occurring in the village in the last decade, the opening of a new Village Hall!In 2006, when closure of the village’s Church Hall was inevitable, Filby’s only remaining meeting place was its ‘Club Room’, a small but picturesque thatched cottage donated to the village in the 1800s. The Club Room could accommodate no more than forty, very cramped people at best.It, therefore, became clear that Filby was in need of a new, modern communal building if the growth of the village’s community spirit was not to be stifled. It was agreed that a project to acquire new facilities would be best undertaken by the Playing Field Committee, which includes a significant number of In-Bloomers. The village has been fundraising since then and had raised close to £200,000, to such an end, through donations, small grants, income derived from recycling newspapers, glass, clothes and shoes and holding events such as our Annual August Bank Holiday Fete.Over the years, a number of grant applications have been made, principally to the Reaching Communities Building Fund of BIG Lottery and, so far, our track record is Played 8, Won 5, Lost 3! The last was made to a very small fund, available for new village halls, which was announced in November 2010. The building would cost £629,000 against which the village sought £500,000 from BIG Lottery, with the remainder to be met from village funds. After a long and arduous application procedure, we learnt of our success on 2nd October 2014. The new Village Hall was completed on 19th June 2015. A further £50,000 was spent on equipment and the Hall was available in time to be used by both Anglia in Bloom and Britain in Bloom judging parties, that year. Anglia in Bloom Judging Day 2015 - C3, C4

This year, we were competing, once again, in Anglia in Bloom’s Village (Pop.301-2,500) Category. We were defending our title of Best Village and were judged on Wednesday 8th July 2015. Our judges were Margaret Albinson, from South Wootton near Kings Lynn, and Joan Gibson from Halstead in Essex.The event was a bit special as it was our first opportunity to use the audio visual facilities of the newly completed Village Hall.Judging started at 10:00 am with a 15 minute presentation and accompanying the judges on their tour were Filby in Bloom’s Chairman, Adrian Thompson and its Press Officer, Derek Nicker.Highlights of the Judging Tour were...Filby Primary School, where the Judges were entertained by songs from the children attending Stepping Stones Nursery and, later, more songs from all of the pupils of the Primary School in the School Hall. Ducklings Class told the Judges about how plants grew and what photosynthesis was all about!and... Eilish Rothney of Norfolk Wildlife Trust outlined their work, in and around the village, and the results of the project to map and encourage a wildlife corridor through it.

Filby’s new Village Hall (13th Jun 2015)

Filby’s new Village Hall (19th Jun 2015)

Anglia in Bloom Judges Joan Gibson (left) and Margaret Albinson

Filby in Bloom 2016

Filby in Bloom’s YearContinued

The ‘Big Red Bus’ with owner, Parick Burnside, at the wheel (19th Jul 2015)

Open Gardens Weekend (18th & 19th July 2015)

The tour concluded with a buffet lunch, which enabled the judges to meet some of those people involved in village activities, including ladies from the W.I.Open Gardens Weekend - C3, C4, C5

‘Open Gardens Weekend’ is the occasion, in July, when the village ‘puts on its best horticultural bib and tucker’ and lets the world inside. Residents are pleased to make their individual contributions to Filby in Bloom by opening their gardens to the public, who visit from far and wide. Gardens on view range from chocolate box to architectural and from manicured to wild. There is even the odd vegetable patch amongst all those flowers. Holidaymakers mingle with day-trippers, many of whom make an annual pilgrimage to join in the event. Residents, too, like to tour the village and take the opportunity to meet the neighbours. Visitor numbers are very dependent upon the weather and, on fine days, they can be seen, in their hundreds, clutching their maps and wandering the prescribed route, searching out the next little gem. Host and guest compare notes and exchange experiences. Plants can be bought at some of the gardens. There is always a welcome

opportunity to rest in the pews of All Saints Parish Church and what village event would be complete without the opportunity for a welcome cup of tea at the Village Hall and a final chat about a great day out.Open Gardens 2015 took place on 18th and 19th July. One of the highlights of the weekend was the presence of a vintage bus offering trips around the village. The bus was a 1950 Bristol L5G 35 seat saloon with Gardner 5LW oil engine and bodywork by Eastern Coach Works of Lowestoft. It was delivered to Norwich, Surrey Street depot in July 1950 and served the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company for 17 and a half years until retirement in January 1968. During this time, it was regularly used on the routes through Filby. It, then, passed via a motor dealer to Simplex of Sawston where it was used as a worker’s bus for a further 7 years, before being rescued for preservation in 1975. It has been owned by Patrick Burnside of Norwich since 1984. He carried out a full restoration which was completed in September 1988. Over the weekend, the bus was driven by its owner with volunteers from the village in the role of conductor. The bus will return for this year’s Open Gardens which will take place over the weekend of 16th and 17th July.Britain In Bloom Judging Day 2015 - C3, C4

Some 400 people attended the 2014 Britain in Bloom Awards Ceremony in Bristol on October 16th. Representing the village were both Gordon and Margery Ward and Derek and Caroline Nicker who received the village’s Gold Medal from Britain in Bloom President, Roger Burnett. Of 7 category entrants, there were an incredible 5 Gold Awards. A subsequent announcement was the village’s nomination for the 2015 Champion of Champions Competition, which came as a complete surprise! Thus, we were entered in the Britain in Bloom competition for an unprecedented sixth successive year!Our judging in the Britain in Bloom Champion of Champions category took place on Tuesday 11th August 2015. Our Judges were Kim Parish and Martyn Hird. Kim had judged

Filby in Bloom 2016



us the previous year but this was Martyn’s first official visit. They were accompanied by RHS Chairman of Judges Roger Burnett who was moderating the Judges. Judging started at 10:00 am with a 15 minute presentation made in the new Village Hall. Before the tour started, a ‘time out’ was taken to allow Archant Photographer James Bass to take pictures for the local paper, the Yarmouth Mercury. The tour itself, which took the full allowance of one and a quarter hours, started with a visit to the children at Stepping Stones Nursery where the judges were treated to a song and saw some of their planting. At Filby Broad, Eilish Rothney of Norfolk Wildlife Trust outlined their activities in the village. Other visits were made to the Wildlife Garden, the Community Orchard, the Allotments, the Village Pound, the Queens Jubilee Bed and the Club Room Gardens.The event was covered by Radio Norfolk’s Andrew Turner who interviewed all participants. The tour was followed by a buffet lunch which gave the visitors the opportunity of meeting those involved in village activities.August Bank Holiday Weekend - C4, C5

Another washout for an unprecedented second successive year! Cold and wet! It was abandoned, including the planned evening Firework Display. Anglia in Bloom Awards Ceremony - C4

On Thursday September 17th, at the Awards Ceremony held in Woodson Park, Ware, we were awarded a Gold Medal and won best Village Category for the fourth year running.Yarmouth in Bloom Awards Ceremony - C4

Unlike the other In Bloom competitions, with Yarmouth in Bloom we never know when we are being judged and who we are being judged by. Never-the-less, on Friday 3rd October, at the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston In Bloom Awards, held in St Georges Theatre, Great Yarmouth, we were pleased, once again, to accept a Gold Medal and the award of the Borough’s Best Village.Britain in Bloom Awards Ceremony - C4

This year, we were invited to compete in the RHS Champion of Champions Category. We were nominated for this accolade for our consistency - at the finals for six of the past seven years, three Britain in Bloom Golds in the Village category in the past four years! The category can include all sizes of entry from a small village to the largest cities.Our competitors in this year’s event were...

Bath (Small City)Market Bosworth (Large Village)

Radio Norfolk reportet, Andrew Turner, interviews Judges (l to r) Martyn Hird, Kim Parish and Roger Burnett (11th Aug 2015)

The Judges at Stepping Stones Nursery (11th Aug 2015)

Judges meet student Daniel Evans at the alotments to discuss his unusual project (11th Aug 2015)

Judges meet NWTs Eilish Rothney at the Filby Broad Boardwalk (11th Aug 2015)

Filby in Bloom 2016


Filby’s Derek Nicker receives our Gold Medal and award for Best Village from Anglia in Bloom’s Chairman, Bob Ollier, (17th Sep 2015).

Norton in Hales (Village) Truro (Large Town) Usk (Large Village)The Britain in Bloom Awards Presentation Ceremony took place at the Rainton Meadows Arena near Sunderland, on Friday 16th October. Filby were represented by Caroline and Derek Nicker and Gordon and Margery Ward. The event was compered by celebrity gardener James Alexander Sinclair.All Champion of Champions entrants received Gold Medals and the category was won by Norton in Hales, from Shropshire - another village! Congratulations to them - it is nice to see another village, supported by volunteers only, winning over other larger entries that are organised by their Parks and Gardens Departments. Filby’s award was presented by Jon Wheatley (Britain in Bloom’s co-Vice Chairman of Judges).Village Hall Official Opening - C4, C5

The hall was officially opened on 31st October by In-Bloom Chairman, Adrian Thompson. It was followed by a party for residents. A Halloween Party for the children, had been held, earlier that day, and what a riot that turned out to be!Grand Firework Display - C4, C5

Another of the village’s big fundraisers, its Fireworks Display, was held on the 1st November, to the great relief of the organisers, as the display planned for the evening of the August Bank Holiday fete had, once again, to be cancelled because of a downpour, leaving the village with twice the normal stock of fireworks. The event was very well attended and £1,839 was raised for village funds.Anglia in Bloom Seminar - C4

On Thursday 12th November, representing Filby, Derek Nicker attended the Autumn seminar and judges surgeries held at Marks Tey, Colchester Best Western Hotel Essex.Presentations particularly enjoyed were from Anglia in Bloom’s David White and Sharon Scott from Cobland Nurseries.David gave a well illustrated talk on Exotic Plants in the landscape, using specimens and a PowerPoint Presentation to show Genus and species. Sharon’s presentation proved an interesting session on shrubs available for highlighting year round colour in the landscape. Suggestions from both presentations would be considered for adoption into Filby’s planting plan.During the judge’s surgery, Derek commented that the team were disappointed by the lack of content (just 10 lines) in the Judge’s Report. It was felt a poor reflection of the work by the village’s In-Bloom team throughout the year.

Caroline and Derek Nicker receive Filby’s Gold Medal in the Champion of Champion’s Category from the RHS’s Jon Wheatley (16th Oct 2015).

Firework Display (1st Nov 2015).

Halloween Party (31st Oct 2015).

Filby in Bloom 2016


Christmas Bazaar - C4, C5

On Saturday 21st November, the annual Christmas Bazaar was held in the new Village Hall for the first timeFilby in Bloom Coffee Mornings - C4, C5

First held on 9th January 2014, monthly Coffee Mornings were established to raise funds for the Village and for In-Bloom. They continue to be held in the Village Hall on the second Thursday of every month.Easter Bonanza - C4, C5

On Saturday 19th March 2016, another of the village’s well-attended, regular fund raisers, the Easter Bonanza, was held in the Village Hall.Gardening Club

In order to obtain a grant from BIG Lottery for the construction of a new Village Hall, a number of surveys were undertaken to understand what activities residents would like to see take place in there. Top amongst these was the formation of a Gardening Club. Filby & District Gardening Club was established at an inaugural meeting in the village’s new Hall at 7pm, on Tuesday, 5th April 2016. Mustard TV’s Gardening Expert, Ellen Mary, was the first guest speaker. Ellen is involved in a group who are helping to bring horticulture to the younger generation and also trying to get newbies of any age into gardening. It has been recognised that gardening clubs are essential to that happening. Ellen delivered some background on the role of a TV presenter and gave us all some food for thought for growing the club and helping to encourage new people into gardening. Ellen has kindly agreeed to be our patron.Her presentation was followed by a discussion on organisation, activities, etc. The speaker at our second meeting, on 10th May, was Filby resident, Margery Ward. Margery who, with her husband, Gordon, ran the village’s Brix Nursery, recently retired as a judge for Anglia in Bloom. She remains on Anglia in Bloom’s Committee ,responsible for the organisation’s promotion. Margery delivered an informative and humorous presentation on effective container planting. After her talk, Margery’s fully planted containers, including a small, wooden wheel barrow, built by In-Bloomer, Percy Hudson, were raffled off for club funds.Events planned for later in the year include a Garden Party and a coach trip to an R.H.S. Garden.

Chairperson Kate Foster addresses the inaugural meeting of Filby & District’s Gardening Club (5th April 2016)

The first Christmas Bazaar in the new Village Hall (21st Nov 2015)

The audience at the inaugural meeting of Filby & District’s Gardening Club (5th April 2016)

Craft Fayre in the new Village Hall (7th Feb 2016)

Filby in Bloom 2016

A - Horticultural Achievement

Spring & Summer Activity 2015 - A1, A2

Filby in Bloom’s portfolios have tended to start reporting the year’s activities from mid-July but 2014 and 2015 were unusual years with many of the team concentrating, at that time, initially on the completion of the village’s application for a BIG Lottery Grant for a new hall and, subsequently, its erection. Accordingly, the deadline for completion of those portfolios was pulled forward to mid-May and some of the spring and early-summer activities were not recorded. Those 2015 activities are reported here.In mid-May 2015, all the bedding was growing on in the greenhouses, and all the hanging baskets were made up. Planting out started on Saturday 24th May, concentrating on Thrigby Road corner and the Village Pound. Baskets were hung out in the first week in June.June saw the village’s verges spring into colour as both In-Bloom’s and Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s roadside planting of wildflower seeds started to pay off, backing up the colour from the beds and hanging baskets. Autumn and Winter Activity 2015 - A1, A2

In September, the work of breaking down the summer displays and recycling both plants and compost for the following year began. This would not be completed until early in the New Year when the last of the flower barrels were emptied and stored ready for use later in the year.

Hanging Baskets hardening off (13th Jun 2015)

Wildflowers planted along Main Road during 2013 (16th Jun 2014)

Hanging basket (3rd Sep 2015)Baskets go up (16th Jun 2014)

Assembly of Christmas decorations (7th Nov 2015)Disposal of the bonfire (7th Nov 2015)

Filby in Bloom 2016

A - Horticultural AchievementContinued

One of the big village events of the year is the Guy Fawkes night Fireworks Display. This was of special importance as the other major fundraiser, the Annual Fete had been rained off, completely. The in-Bloom Saturday Crew oversaw the construction of the bonfire, established a hedgehog barrier and inspected it, for them, daily. The event was a major success! After it, the team also disposed of the ashes.Over the Christmas period, the team’s basket were, again, put to use as the base for Christmas decorations hung from the village lamp posts.Growing-on Facilities - A1, A2

Filby in Bloom has a substantial polytunnel at Thompson’s farm, supplemented by two lean-to green houses built in 2009 and 2010. Anglia in Bloom’s, Gordon and Margery Ward, moved house in 2013 and donated their green house to In-Bloom, enabling some cultivation from seed. It is within these facilities that the In-Bloom year really starts with the assembly of the factory line to prick out and plant on the year’s plug plant purchases.

Planning for Summer Displays - A1, A2

For its summer displays, ordered in January, Filby in Bloom buys plant plugs from Pentland Plants and pots them on. This year’s purchase of 13,758 plugs was a little over 1,000 more than last year and continues to place an emphasis (64%) on Begonias, which have proven a great success in recent years.In terms of colour, this year’s buy saw an increase in reds and oranges at the expense of pinks and purples.Filby in Bloom’s standard Hanging Basket for 2016 is, again, a 450 mm diameter basket containing 15 plants, a colourful mix of

Lean-to Greeh House (7th May 2016) The other Lean-to Greeh House (7th May 2016)

The Polytunnel (7th May 2016)The Factory Line (9th Apr 2016)

Filby in Bloom 2016


Begonias, Petunias, Bidens, Verbenas and Calibrachoas.60 hanging baskets were prepared by the Saturday Crew, by ‘the numbers’. A further 60 baskets were obtained from a local Garden Centre at Moulton St. Mary.Kings Head Bed - A1, A2

That this bed, actually situated at the corner of Main Road and Mautby Lane, had deteriorated over the years was noticed by Mrs. Lesley and Mr. Mike Smith of Burghwood Landscapes, a local firm, who volunteered to sponsor the bed for the 2015 displays. That rebuild commenced in February and was completed in March, including re-turfing the ‘island’ upon which

the bed sits.One of our 2014 judges inferred that there was not too much different to see at that end of the village. Well there is now!Barrels and Planters - A1, A2

The suggestion was made that, in order to introduce more permanent planting and to facilitate Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s wish for a wildlife friendly corridor through the village, the barrels should be discarded in favour of planters. Roadside barrels were originally prepared in 2008, as a contingency, to add height to the displays in the event that Filby lost the ability to suspend baskets from its lampposts. Their use has continued ever since. Not liked by some, their number were reduced, again, during 2015. Those barrels that remained in use were treated to a new coat of paint.Ignoring the option of purchase, In-Bloom opted to build 14 three-tiered planters from re-cycled timber, donated by Norfolk Wildlife Trust, recovered from their 2012 rebuild of the Boardwalk to Ormesby Little Broad.

Filby’s 2016 Display compared with 2015

Kings Head bed (14th Feb 2015) Kings Head bed after rebuild (3rd Sep 2015)

Planter at Poplar Drive (6th Jun 2015) Planter at Filby Close (3rd Sep 2015)

Filby in Bloom 2016


When in-situ, the planters were filled with a mixture of compost and topsoil donated by WT Skips and East Coast Waste.The planters were distributed throughout the village, including replacing a pair of boxes at the boardwalk to Filby Broad that had been criticised by Britain in Bloom 2014 Judges as ‘not being of the quality of similar containers’.In order to create a bee corridor throughout the village the planters were filled with Lavender angusitfolia, Cheiranthus ‘Bowles Mauve’ and Vinca minor. Later, winter bedding, pansies and violas, were added to provide nectar for pollinators for as long as possible.Village Pound - A1, A2, A3, B3

The Pound is designed to be the central focus of the village. Traditionally Pounds were where livestock was gathered before the long walk to market. Today, it is an area where wheeled travelers may stop for a closer look; an opportunity for walkers to sit and take their ease amongst the glorious scents, sounds and colours, it affords a restful space for those who have cause to remember local people lost in times of conflict.However, in 2013, Britain in Bloom judges commented, adversely, that the beds on the Pound were undernourished. At a meeting on 2nd December 2013, In-Bloomers decided to undertake a full ‘makeover’ of the Pound, repositioning and revitalising beds for the 2014 season. Barry Forsdyke, a former professional horticulturist, drafted a rough outline of the new Pound that would include a substantial conversion to permanent planting, to be undertaken in subsequent years as funds are raised to acquire the requisite shrubs.Work commenced in January 2014. New beds were cut in accordance with Barry’s plan and each was rejuvenated with plenty of cow muck. A pergola was built by Percy Hudson to provide a vista to the Ken Martin Memorial Water Feature, at the rear of the Pound, and the Women’s Institute Bed was repositioned towards the centre, relieving it of shade from nearby trees. New seats were donated by the Parish Council and by the Filby Society, a group of people from all over the world who converge on our small Norfolk village, every three years, to meet together in the place with which they share their name. On the Pound is the village’s Far East Prisoners of War Memorial. In January, 1942, the 18th (East Anglian) Infantry Division was diverted, from its intended destination, the Middle East, to Singapore to help defend the city but, after 17 days of fierce fighting, it was surrendered to Japanese forces on 15th February. Included in that Division were the 4th, 5th and 6th Battalions of the Royal Norfolk Regiment, amongst which were men from the village. In 2008, a Memorial Bed, on the Filby Village Pound, was established, by the In-Bloom team, to commemorate their

Spring Colour (20th Apr 2016)

The Pumping Station receiving a coat of stain (6th Jun 2015)

The Pound (3rd Sep 2015)


Filby in Bloom 2016


sacrifice. The following year, a permanent memorial was added. The new work in cast concrete was designed and built by village resident, Tom Green, using the same tile mosaic technique he employed for the build of new village signs, in 2008. That memorial was retained whilst the layout of the Village’s Pound was revamped around it.During 2015, attention began to be paid to the Pound’s surroundings. Ditches were cleared and brush was cut back exposing multitudes of daffodil bulbs which had never been enjoyed before. This allowed the planting of new hedging using a donation from the Woodland’s Trust. The clearance gave more exposure to the unsightly pumping station so Percy Hudson made trellis out of recycled pallets from the New Hall to screen it.The Pound’s back bed was redesigned and the hard edging removed. Climbing and rambling roses, donated by Gordon and Marjory Ward, were planted to cover the pergola. Finally, the annual beds were rotavated in time for planting out early in June. The 2014 planting of the four front beds, including the village sign bed, aimed to give maximum impact during the summer months with hot red Pelargoniums, tall stately white Nicotiana sylvestris and white Begonia sempiflorens. The perfumed flowers of the tobacco plants attracted many moths in the evening and generally it was the most talked about plant in 2014. Seeds were saved for those who requested them and for growing on in 2015.The Filby and District Women’s Institute bed is wholly coordinated by their members. Their purpose is to present a bee friendly garden. In the spring, it is full of Daffodils and Primulas moving to the hotter colours of Euphorbias, Rudbeckias, Roses and other perennials in the summer.The focus of the pergola beds changed in 2014 from using numerous annuals to a programme of planting pollinator friendly perennials, thinning out shrubs to allow more light and air. New additions included Persicaria bistorta superba, Teucrium lucidrys, Geum ‘Mrs Bradshaw’, Papavers, Helenium ‘Helena Mixed’, Hebes and Digitalis. Loniceras and Clematis were planted to climb the pergola.Our scheme for 2015 included the planting of additional perennials and a radical re-shaping of trees and shrubs to better frame the Pound beds. In addition primulas were planted along the ditch and snowdrops amongst the beds to give extra spring interest.Primulas were planted in the main beds of the Pound to provide spring colour in 2016.Club Room Garden - A1, A2, A3, B3

The Village’s former ‘Hall’ is known locally as the Club Room - it is an eighteenth century thatched cottage, donated to the village to be used as a Reading Room. The suggestion, of the Anglia Judges, in the report on their 2013 tour, that its garden had been

The Club Room Garden excavation (1st Jun 2015)

The Club Room Garden (14th May 2016)


The Pound (24th May 2016)

Filby in Bloom 2016

A - Horticultural AchievementThe Village Pound Makeover

neglected, was perfectly valid. It’s permanent planting precluded easy access and had become overgrown. It was ‘right under people’s noses’ but nobody had noticed its untidiness. So much so that photographs of it, in its sorry state, were difficult to locate.In Bloomer, Caroline Nicker, volunteered to take on the project. Her concept was to restore it as a Cottage Garden, populated by pollinators, providing easy access for all. The Saturday Crew adopted a ‘scorched earth’ policy and the ground was cleared in December 2013. Roots were dug out and earth turned in January. Large quantities of compost were brought from Thompson’s Farm to create new beds, which were covered with a thick layer of wood chippings, as a mulch, by way of weed control and moisture retention. A shingle path was laid and an entrance created from the adjacent car park.A pergola seat and obelisks were built and installed by Percy Hudson, who also turned his hand to building a water butt stand. Water from the gutters of the Club Room was channeled to a butt donated by a resident. Percy built a compost bin that was designed to replicate a traditional WBC bee hive. The WBC was invented by and named after William Broughton Carr. An appeal for plants was made through the village’s news sheet and through the local press. This received a superb response and donations have continued into this year.In the garden is Ellie Beattie’s Water Feature. Ellie Beattie, a student at Langley School, near Loddon in Norfolk, volunteered, as part of her studies, to construct a water feature for Filby. She designed and built the modern looking structure that includes the words ‘Filby in Bloom’ cast in Aluminium that she had recovered from recycled drink cans. It was originally installed on Thrigby Road corner and officially unveiled by the Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Terry Easter, on 7th July 2008. It was moved to the grounds of the Club Room, in 2010, to allow its permanent connection to power and water. Having been established during 2014, the garden was to be bisected during the construction of the new hall to allow drainage works. To minimise losses, during November 2014, many shrubs and flowers that had been carefully researched for their suitability as perennial, pollinating cottage garden plants, were removed and heeled into two beds at the Millennium Shelter.Access to the site was not restored until June 13th 2015 which was less than 4 weeks from Anglia In Bloom judging on 8th July and only 8 weeks from Britain In Bloom judging on August 11th. It is testament to the sterling work of Caroline Nicker that complete restoration was achieved before those dates. Village Hall Garden - A1, A2, A3, B3

Substantial drainage works were undertaken in front of the new Village Hall, which carved a large area out of both the new Club Room Garden and the former car park. Through this, paving was laid to create significant areas of new flower beds.These were hastily planted out on 13th June 2015, during one of the heaviest downpours of the year, to make a start on a new bed commemorating the end of World War II. It was planned to be a sensory garden; an exciting project in its own right. It looked tidy enough in time for judging but is, now, beginning to fill out and is looking good as summer 2016 approaches.Queen’s Golden Jubilee Bed - A1, A2, A3, B3

Originally planted in 2002, in celebration of the Queens Jubilee, the garden was past its best and required a thorough overhaul. Closer inspection proved that shrubs had strayed beyond acceptability and labels indicated the disappearance of plants. On the side of the Playing Field, from November 2014 to June 2015, this was split by the boundary fencing of the Village Hall building site. As it would be very close to the new Hall, the decision was made to cut it back and replant it. Kate Foster kindly agreed to take on the project.

Planting the Village Hall Garden in the rain (13th Jun 2015)

The Village Hall Garden (14th May 2016)

Filby in Bloom 2016


That winter saw hardy members of the Saturday crew clearing hypericum, cutting back woody plants and cleansing the ground of perennial weeds. A two year redesign programme commenced with the planting of new shrubs including Ilex (to frame the stylish commemorative stone), Roses and Honeysuckle, the latter duo to be trained along the back brick wall. Pollinator friendly perennials were added; Geum ‘Mrs Bradshaw’, G. ‘Lady Strathden’, Euphorbia, Salvia ‘Royal Bumble’, Papaver, Phlomis russeliana, Ligularia przewalskii and Epimediums. Spring colour comes from narcissi, primulas and snowdrops. To add the WOW, annuals were utilised; Begonia ‘GoGo Salmon’, Antirrhinum ‘Bronze Shades’, Rudbeckia hirta ‘Prairie Sun’, R. h. ‘Marmalade’, French Marigold ‘Safari Gold’, Marigold ‘Nova’, M. ‘Art Shades’, Cosmos ‘ Polidor’ and C. ‘Millenium’. This year more perennials were added: further rejuvenation included pruning and the training of roses and honeysuckle. The overall design is intended to present a yellow, bronze and orange colour palette reflecting the vibrancy and positivity of our Queens reign.Thrigby Road Corner Bed - A1, A2

The bed was enlarged in 2015. Its terracing was replaced by a slope, and on the advice of 2014’s judges, during 2015, height was introduced into the display with Nicotiana sylvestris at the rear. A Broads Influence - A1, A2

In keeping with the 2010 display’s Broads Theme, it was decided to erect a sailing dingy by the Boardwalk to Filby Broad. After recovering a wreck, In-Bloomer Tom Green rebuilt it and applied a new, white paint job. Netting was used for sails to reduce wind damage. Tom christened his craft the ‘Filby Flyer’!Business Premises - A4

All of Filby’s main businesses are active participants in Filby in Bloom. The Shop & Post Office are the hub of information dispersal in the village and are Filby in Bloom’s de facto headquarters. The Filby Bridge Restaurant is also an active participant in the floral displays, each year. However, the village’s only remaining pub, the King’s Head, closed its doors this year.Residential Gardens - A3, C3

There are many beautifully maintained private gardens in the village, some very visible during the judging. As part of the annual Filby in Bloom fundraiser, 15 private gardens were open, again, to the public during the village’s Open Gardens Weekend, 18th and 19th July, of last Year.Tree Planting - A1, A2

Continuing tree planting about the village, a grant of £1,500 from

Planting at Thrigby Road Corner (3rd Sep 2015)

The Filby Flyer (26th Apr 2014)

Queen’s Jubilee Bed (3rd Sep 2015)

Queen’s Jubilee Bed (14th Mar 2015)

Filby in Bloom 2016

the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads Authority, in 2010, enabled the purchase of further fruit trees for the Community Orchard and 37 native trees to complete the planting along the village’s roads, the following year. Varieties planted included Cottoneaster, Sorbus, Crataegus, Malus, Pyrus, Prunus, English Oak and Hornbeam.Hedge Planting - A1, A2

On Saturday 23rd February 2013, a new hedge was planted along Main Road, near Poplar Drive. The hedge consisted of Rowan, Hawthorn, Hazel, Wild Cherry, Dog Rose and Silver Birch. The plants were a gift from the Woodland Trust, to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the previous year. In 2015, gaps, that had developed in the planting, were filled by volunteers from Norfolk Wildlife Trust. A further 420 mixed hedge plants, gifted from the Woodland Trust, were planted on Main Road, the Pound and Filby Common on 15th March 2015.Allotments - A3

With the exception of a couple of plots that subsequently became the Orchard and the Wildlife Area, the bulk of the acreage, set aside by the village for allotments, was unwanted by residents and was rented out to a local farmer. As a result of some publicity about their availability, 5 plots were brought back into use as allotments in 2010. A total of 18 plots are available, now, of which 16 are occupied. Two drawbacks over the location are the large local rabbit population and the absence of a standpipe.On 27th March 2012, after consultation with the Unitarian Church, Filby Parish Council had agreed new car parking arrangements at the village’s allotments. The Parish Council also hired the village’s historic Jam Shed, nearby, so that allotment holders could use it for storage. (Until the late 1950s, the Jam Shed was used to hold the village’s annual crop of raspberries, from where it was collected by lorry and taken to the depot of William Bracey & Sons, Fruit Merchants, in the nearby village of Martham, who would sell them on to canners and jam factories.)During the Britain in Bloom Judging Tour in 2012, allotment holders first revealed their secret of successful vegetable cultivation - the use of a plant feed made from the herb, Comfrey. Judges were treated to the sight and smell of this liquid fertiliser and advised that it was, now, being grown there on an industrial scale. In 2013, a re-interpretation of the rules enabled allotment holders to keep chickens. In 2014, a compost bin was built into hedging separating the allotments from a next-door paddock affording the horse owners easy disposal and the allotment holders easy access to a source of manure.In 2015, one new allotment proved to be very strange! Daniel Evans, a local resident, as part of his degree studies, cut three deep trenches into his plot which he used to do research into vegetable root penetration.Wild Flower Planting - A1, A2, A5

Filby does not have a convenient meadow or roundabout to develop a wildflower planting but it does have plenty of hedges and verges, so, by way of a first attempt at wildflower cultivation, in 2013, it was agreed to attempt a hedgerow mix. Rather than scatter seeds about, randomly, it was decided to cultivate them. The seeds were sown, at the right density, into a 3 cm deep layer of potting compost on sections of cardboard placed in Baker’s Bread Trays. The ‘turfs’ were laid at their chosen destination, the verge by Filby Bridge, on 8th June. In spring, the following year,

Village Allotments (7th Jun 2016)

A wildflower patch opposite the Pound (24th May 2016)

Root growth research at Filby’s Allotments (6th Jun 2015)

A - Horticultural AchievementClub Room Garden Redevelopment

Filby in Bloom 2016


the plants re-emerged in late April. A nice display in 2015, they have re-emerged, again, this year.Rotary Crocus Beds - A1, A3

On 2nd October 2011, watched by a contingent of members of the Rotary Club of Great Yarmouth and In-Bloomers, children from the village school had fun planting four thousand purple Crocus bulbs in beds, provided by Filby in Bloom, in front of the village Playing Field. Done in support of Rotary’s ‘Purple Pinkie Power’ programme, this was part of a series of End Polio Now events taking place throughout the UK. The triangular beds, on Main Road, include a small patch of yellow crocuses in the shape of an eye. Community Orchard - A5, B1

The initial idea for a community orchard was floated by village resident Joan Saul, over coffee, in late November 2007. None of her listeners had heard of the concept before but it seemed to have great potential and could form a useful part of the village’s ‘In-Bloom’ development. The thought of using native Norfolk varieties of apple was a great motivator.The project was to...

• Create and maintain an orchard within the village for the enjoyment of the residents.• Create and maintain smaller groups of trees, on other sites, where appropriate.• Work with partners, such as the East of England Apples and Orchards Project, to secure this aim.• Use local varieties, to endeavour to ensure their long term future.• Make suitable trees, stakes, guards, ties etc., available, at reasonable cost, for residents to plant within their own property.

The go-ahead for the project was agreed by the Filby in Bloom Committee at a meeting on 11th December 2007. The Orchard was, initially, established on part of an allotment, on Thrigby Road, donated by plot holder, Steven Elderkin. The orchard is approached past the remains of Filby’s former Unitarian Church and the Wildlife Garden. This beautiful and well maintained area is, truly, one of Filby’s best kept secrets! The first trees, a selection of seven apple varieties were planted on 1st March 2008. Trees planted included Green Roland (1800s), Norfolk Beefing (1698), Vicar of Beighton (1890), Summer Broaden (1796), Horsford Prolific (1900), Sandringham (1883), and Red Ellison (1948). The size of the orchard was increased, in May 2008, when the remainder of Steven’s plot was transferred to the project. That part of the plot contained a small vineyard of 25 year old grapevines. On the advice of Anglia in Bloom 2008 Judges, the apple orchard was replanted, taking advantage of the extra area to achieve a wider spacing between the trees. Grapevines were retained at the border. In 2009, the selection of apple trees was extended to thirteen varieties, four dual use varieties, four cookers (culinary) and five eaters (dessert). Two varieties of pear tree were also introduced, one culinary variety of Norfolk pear and one dessert variety. In 2011, as part of a grant for permanent planting from the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads Authority, 20 further Norfolk apple trees, 8 Norfolk cherry trees and 3 Suffolk greengage trees were purchased and planted in the orchard. The seventy two trees now fully utilise the space available. In 2014, a group of children from Filby School, teachers, helpers and parents spent a number of afternoons at the orchard helping feed some of the trees and planting their own area in the wild garden. On the 5th October, a first Annual Apple and Orchard Day was organised by Norfolk Wildlife Trust with a number of activities at the Playing Field and, later, at the orchard.

Filby’s Community Orchard (7th Jun 2016)

Filby’s Community Orchard (7th Jun 2016)

Filby in Bloom 2016

B - Environmental Responsibility

Trinity Broads - A5, B1, B3

The Trinity Broads are an isolated system of lakes, situated north-west of Great Yarmouth. Despite the name, the Trinity Broads area covers five broads: Ormesby, Rollesby, Ormesby Little, Lily and Filby Broad. Nearby is the very small Little Broad. The village of Filby sits between Filby and Ormesby Little Broads.The area directly managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust is 14 sq. miles. It consists of 0.64 sq. miles of open water, about 14% of the open water of the Broads. It is surrounded by 1¾ square miles of fen and wet woodland habitats; this is roughly the size of 600 football pitches. Its catchment area is around 11½ square miles. The area was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1998 and is, now, a part of the Broads Special Area of Conservation (SAC).Essex & Suffolk Water owns the majority of the site from which it draws water for Great Yarmouth and the surrounding area. In 1995, a partnership between the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads Authority, Essex & Suffolk Water, the Environment Agency and English Nature

(now Natural England) was formed. The aim of this partnership was to restore the ecological status of the Trinity Broads, reducing their turbidity, for the benefit of nature conservation, public water supply and recreation. Ormesby and Ormesby Little Broad ranked highly in terms of prioritisation for restoration work, with the others receiving a medium ranking.Aimed at reducing algae by encouraging the growth of daphnia populations, a large-scale demonstration project was undertaken at Ormesby Broad which, at the time, held virtually the entire fish population of the Trinity Broads. About 10,000 kilos of fish were removed over the winters of 1994 / 95 and 1995 / 96. This resulted in the immediate return of clear water in the summer and a rapid recovery of diverse aquatic plant communities across the broad. These clear waters and aquatic plant conditions have remained to the present day, highlighting how such techniques can have lasting positive environmental results. Fish removal, through electrical stunning, continued to 2002 and control of Bream spawning, by netting areas where eggs are laid, to 2006.The removal of fish from Ormesby Broad eliminated their migration to surrounding waters and had a knock on effect for the other Broads. Turbidity reduced and mixed plant life increased in all other linked Trinity Broads but Filby Broad improved the least. It is speculated that the sediment in Filby Broad, as a result of its East / West alignment with prevailing winds, is subject to more disturbance than other waters. Also the Muck Fleet channel from that Broad to the River Bure, despite isolating the Broad via a sluice, is a fish reservoir. The last few years have been fantastic for water plants in the Trinity Broads system. Rollesby Broad had plants covering 100% of the Broad, in many areas growing right to the surface, and there was, also, a good variety including a large stand of Water Crowfoot. All broads, apart from Filby Broad, are now, officially, considered to be recovering back to their ideal condition in terms of their wildlife value. This was a central aim of the Partnership’s Restoration project, at its conception, and it has been successfully achieved!

Filby in Bloom would like to acknowledge the assistance received from Norfolk Wildlife Trust in the preparation of their portfolios, over recent years.

Ormesby Broad

Ormesby St. MichaelRollesby

Filby

Rollesby Broad

Ormesby Little Broad

Filby Broad

Lily Broad

Little Broad

Boardwalk with bird hideBroad shore walkway

Filby sailing club

Muck Fleet

Rollesby sailing club

Filby BridgeRestaurant

WatersideRestaurant

Rsvr.

A1064

A149

Trinity Broads

Trinity Broads

Filby in Bloom 2016

B - Environmental ResponsibilityContinued

Village Pond - B1, B3

The Village Pond was one of several along the main road through the village. Some were dug to extract Clay to enable the construction of local cottages but most were established to provide water for horses and, more latterly, for steam driven agricultural equipment as the industry became more mechanised.In 2009, the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads Authority volunteered to conduct a survey of the main village pond. This was undertaken by Hannah Gray, Project Officer for the Trinity Broads, on 30th April, of that year, who sent a formal report to the village. Hannah, whilst reporting the absence of any particularly interesting features, said that this did not negate its value within the overall landscape of the area. Ponds are few and far between, in the surrounding agricultural landscape, and any pond is valuable for wildlife as part of a network of habitats.A recent housing development at Grange Farm, on Main Road, has revealed another of the village’s ponds, which the builders have tidied up and have started some tasteful planting.Wildlife Area - B1

The Wildlife Garden became part of the Community Orchard in 2009 and has been allowed to develop slowly, with the minimum of intervention, although an area has been set aside for soft fruit etc., as a tribute to the earlier use made of this land. This fruit is gathered and processed to benefit village charities.In 2012, an insect hotel was constructed in the Wildlife Garden. It was suggested by Joan Saul and assembled by Joan, Victor Tungate and Les Futter, using natural and recycled materials. The new structure was built to further the aims of the garden to provide a haven for insects, especially bees, and other wildlife. A ‘Stumpery’ was added for the same purpose, early last year. Ormesby Little Broad Viewing Platform and Walkway - B1

A boardwalk to a viewing platform overlooking Ormesby Little Broad, at Filby Bridge, reopened for Easter, in 2012, after six months of renovation and conservation work. Over the winter, a 30 year old rotten boardwalk was replaced by a ½ km hard-surfaced footpath, which is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. A dyke, that had silted up completely, was dredged out and thousands of young fish returned to over-winter, there. Plants such as milk parsley and water irises are growing and kingfishers, otters, water voles, bittern, dragonflies and damselflies have been seen there. Some trees have been cut down to allow more light into the dyke. At the end of the path, a new wooden viewing platform offers stunning views over peaceful Ormesby Little Broad, part of the Trinity Broads, where rowing, sailing, electric and model boating and angling are permitted. New interpretation signs have been put up telling people about the area and what wildlife they can see there. The work was carried out by the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads Authority in partnership with Essex and Suffolk Water.

Filby Village Pond (6th Jun 2015)

Grange Farm Pond (7th Jun 2016)

Insect Hotel at the Wildlife Garden (7th Jun 2016)

Viewing Platform at Ormesby Little Broad (7th Jun 2016)

Filby in Bloom 2016


Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Living Landscapes Project - B1

Recent surveys of the parish have revealed some lovely mature and veteran Oaks, and Oak trees can support over 350 different species of wildlife. See map above. Oaks and small leaved Lime trees have been recently planted by Trinity Broads volunteers along with over 1,000 hedge plants. Hedgerows are very important for wildlife and they provide cover and protection for insects, small mammals and breeding song birds. They act as a corridor for wildlife, for example hedgehogs, to move along safely. Bats can use hedges for navigation between roosts and feeding grounds, and hedgerows often act as windbreaks, benefiting crops, people and wildlife. In Filby, hedges provide vital links between wildlife areas such as the Broads, the community wildlife garden and domestic gardens. Villagers’ gardens make up one of the main habitats that has potential for wildlife in the parish. Gardening with wildlife in mind can make a huge difference to declining wildlife such as Hedgehogs, Frogs and songbirds.Nest Boxes - B1

In February 2009, 40 nest boxes of various types, built by residents Percy Hudson and Ernest Bollington, were distributed about sites in the village, recognising the British Trust for Ornithology National Nest Box Week. In 2013, a further 17 were put up in February, throughout the village, by Ken Saul and Les Futter. They are still being monitored for occupation. In addition to this, Norfolk Wildlife Trust has erected an Owl Box on Filby Common and will be monitoring it for accommodation.

Filby in Bloom 2016


Domestic Waste Recycling - B2

Waste collection at the Recycling Centre at the Post Office continues. Newspapers and glass are left there by residents with revenues going to village charities. A more recent contribution to these funds has been the collection of shoes and clothes. The local authority recycles wastepaper, cardboard, Aluminium cans, plastic bottles, garden waste and, now, glass with bi-weekly home collection via wheelie bins. The borough has recognised that there is another income stream to be had from recycled glass and this has resulted in a decrease in glass recycled by the village. This loss has not been totally alleviated by the local restaurant’s donation of their glass waste. Commercial collection of aluminium cans also takes place, at the Post Office, but this may well be undertaken by the village in the near future. The village also recycles unwanted mobile phones and printer ink cartridges which are passed to the Royal National Institute for the Blind. Dependent upon prevailing prices, Filby currently raises about £2,500 per year from recycling, which is well down on the highs of about £4,000 per year when income from this source was at its peak.Even the recycling area at the Post Office gets the Filby in Bloom treatment with the Filby name, in topiary, in a bed by the bins and a liberal distribution of hanging flower bags placed around the

Filby Bird Boxes 2016

This is the fourth year of the project which commenced in 2013. Sixteen bird nest boxes, constructed by Percy Hudson, together with a further donated nest box, were then erected by Les Futter and Ken Saul. These have subsequently been monitored for use each year, with all the boxes being inspected and cleaned out every winter, prior to the next nesting season.

As might be expected, those boxes where definite breeding had been noted in 2015 contained old nests, usually with a few droppings etc. among the material. Interestingly, no fewer than five of the boxes where no obvious activity had been recorded the previous spring, were found to contain remains of old nests. Two of these showed no signs of actual breeding (eg. droppings, infertile eggs), while two had droppings and dead baby Great Tits. This may reflect the cool weather conditions and a lack of suitable food. The final one of this grouping contained a dead adult Great Tit, which, by its condition, had probably died whilst using the box as a winter roosting site.

Two of the boxes required repair during the winter and were then repositioned in the same locations. Box 17 in the Wildlife Garden had fallen from its tree and has been relocated on the side of the shed.

The activity at each box was again monitored during April and May 2016, utilising the same technique of observing either nest-building and/or the feeding of nestlings. As usual, some of the boxes used last year were active again, others were not. Similarly, some that were previously unused did reveal breeding this time. This mirrors observations in previous years too. Only box 15 in the churchyard has remained unused in all four years of the project. This suggests that perhaps it should be re-sited to encourage future use?

Strangely, it appeared that, as last year, none of the nest boxes in the churchyard were used this year. Quite why this should be is difficult to determine, but clearly the cool weather has undoubtedly had an influence. In general terms, 2016 appears to be the worst breeding season since the project began. It is possible that some birds may have made a second attempt following initial failure, so it will be interesting to see whether the winter inspection again reveals more clues. The observed activity at each box is listed below.

The map shows approximate locations of the nest-boxes, but is not to scale.

Ken Saul June 2016

Filby churchyard

Box 7 – no activity recorded





Footpath


Box 11 – no activity recorded; the entrance hole has now been covered by ivy, so this will require clearing.

Wildlife Garden



Filby Common

Box 4 – Great Tit; adults feeding young, both in the box and recently fledged

Box 1 - no activity recorded




Box 10 – Blue Tit; adults feeding young



Village Council Commercial Charity

Newspapers √ √

Cardboard √

Glass √ √

Aluminium Cans √ √

Plastic Bottles √

Garden Waste √ √

Clothes √

Shoes √

Mobile Phones √

Printer Cartridges √

Filby’s Materials Recycled 2015 / 2016

Filby in Bloom 2016


bins during the summer months. Plant and Compost Recycling - B2

When the hanging baskets and barrels come down, during the autumn, Filby’s policy has always been to recycle as much of their content as possible.This includes repairing all baskets and reclaiming the Begonias, and Geraniums for the next season. Compost from the display bins is returned to the communal bin where it is mixed with garden waste and well-rotted cow manure for eventual re-use. It has proven to be excellent for digging into and improving the soil quality of our larger bedding schemes.Garden Waste Composting - B2

Until 2007, two readily accessible bins were maintained in the village for the disposal of garden waste. However, abuse occurred, frequently, and the In-Bloom Team were required to devote too much time segregating compostable and non-compostable waste. The bins were removed and, now, people requiring to dispose of large quantities of genuine garden waste are encouraged to use the In-Bloom bin by the polytunnel. In addition, last year, the local council started a garden waste collection scheme.Peat Usage Reduction - B2

At a series of In-Bloom meetings during 2008 / 9, it was resolved to reduce Filby’s peat usage. Filby aimed to be using composts containing no more than 80% peat by 2011. Albeit a couple of

years late, that has, now, been achieved! Filby mixes multi-purpose compost with 25% by weight of its own composted material. The peat in the multi-purpose compost is not harvested from areas of scientific interest.Mulching - B2

To assist water conservation and to control weed, all of the permanent beds in the village are mulched with a liberal layer of wood chip donated by a local business, Ormesby Garden Machinery and by local Arborealist, Ashley Clarke.Chemical Treatments - B2

No herbicides are used by Filby in Bloom. The use of pesticides is limited to a few slug pellets and the ‘odd squirt’, here and there, to control local infestations.Information Boards - B3, B5

The village already had three information boards, erected by the Broads Trust, illustrating wildlife to be seen about Filby and Ormesby Broads. A further two boards map public paths and walks in and around the village. In 2009, Filby in Bloom erected an additional three illustrated boards, one on the Village Pound (updated in 2015), another at Thrigby Mill and a third placed in the new sensory garden, alongside the Club Room, dedicated to the village’s participants in the Second World War. Another was suggested for the village pond but the position was considered a safety risk.A sign was placed in the W.I. bed on the Pound to commemorate the 75th Anniversary, in 2009, of the W.I. in the village and a notice was placed at the Water Feature, now in the Club Room Garden, recording its creation by schoolgirl, Ellie Beattie. Information illustrating the planting plan of the Community Orchard is positioned on the side of the orchard’s shed.Cleanliness - B4

Fortunately, in its rural situation, Filby suffers from less than its fair share of environmental quality issues. There are few eyesore properties within the parish but graffiti is largely absent from village life. Vandalism is an occasional problem. Trees planted along village paths were damaged, in May of 2009, by persons thought to have

Filby’s Recycling Weights

Filby’s Peat Usage Reduction

Filby in Bloom 2016


been present, earlier, at one of the local pubs. Two trees were lost to this. Local police made enquiries. Local people made threats!Paths accumulate weeds and verges become overgrown, at the usual seasonal rates, but all such blemishes are attended to, on a regular basis, by both the local council and by volunteers from the village’s In-Bloom team. Verges are strimmed, hedges are trimmed and grass spaces are mown by those volunteers, frequently, during the summer months. Wheelie bins are provided by the council and household and recycling wastes are collected on alternate weeks. On the odd occasion when bins do overflow, council personnel are very conscientious in removing the surplus, leaving the village its usual tidy self.Welcome Signs - B5

On 14th June 2008, two new signs were erected at the main entrances to the village. Designed and built by In-Bloomer, Tom Green, the signs depict the village’s Grebe logo with a floral surround. That floral design is repeated on the Filby Flyer, the sailing boat at the walkway to Filby Broad.Street Furniture - B5

The village’s benches, barrels and boxes are re-painted, regularly. The main man with the brush was In-Bloomer and former fireman, John Cox. John undertook a final project in the spring of 2012 - the renovation of the village sign to its original colours. John moved to Sheringham, late in 2012 and Ian Richardson has done a fine job taking on the mantle of furniture painting.Watering - A2

At the height of summer, In-Bloom can use up to 2,000 litres of water per day when watering its displays. All of this is drawn from a bore hole located on Thompson’s Farm.Other Activities - B2, B4, B5

Major events in Filby take place on the Playing Field and parking is provided both on the field itself (outside of the football pitch) and in an adjacent field. Unfortunately, on a number of occasions, wet weather has resulted in severe damage to the field’s surface. The village received a donation of road planings to enable a road to be built to the overspill parking. In January 2012, In-Bloom’s Saturday Crew created the new perimeter road on the Playing Field. Filby Bridge received a coat of paint in May 2015.

Filby’s Welcome Signs (14th Jun 2008)

Filby’s renovated Village Sign (26th Mar 2012)

Filby in Bloom Accounts - Jun 2015 to May 2016 - C5

Income Expenditure

Carried Forward £275 Compost, new containers, tomato feed £1,070

Parish Council £600 Plants £3,034

Open Gardens £900 Callendar / Year Planner £125

BID (Tourism Board) £3,000 Wood £166

Community Chest £250 Insurance £391

Coffee Mornings £420 Moulton Nurseries £1,500

Restaurant Quiz Nights £900

Shop Collection £200

Total £6,545 Total £6,285

Carried Forward £260Painting Filby Bridge (7th May 2015)

Filby in Bloom 2016

C - Community Participation

The Press - C2

As a result of our outstanding results in 2014, Filby in Bloom ‘hit the glossies’ with a feature article in the May 2015 issue of Archant Newspaper’s Norfolk Magazine.All aspects of activity in Filby feature, each week, in the ‘Village Life’ section of the local newspaper, The Yarmouth Mercury, also published by Archant and In-Bloom news continues to appear, regularly. Sporadic Press Releases are issued by the In-Bloom team, highlighting items and events that it considers newsworthy. Filby in Bloom is, also, prominent in the regional paper, The Eastern Daily Press (EDP - also published by Archant).Where possible, during their tour, judges are interviewed and photographed by Archant staff. If this does not occur, photographs and judges’ comments are submitted, by Filby in Bloom, to the local press. Filby’s results in the regional and national competitions are usually well reported. Coverage is to be arranged for the 2016 judging.The Filby Flyer - C2

This, Filby’s own monthly A4 news sheet, has been circulated to all residents since 2005. The succinct newsletter summarises key village events. It keeps everybody up to date with what is happening, locally and it provides a good channel to call for extra help when needed. It is an essential part of village life and is central to the In-Bloom message. A survey, conducted in 2009 as part of the project to acquire a new Village Hall, revealed the Flyer ‘in top spot’ with 88% of respondents registering it as their most used source of information on activities within the parish.Local Radio & Television - C2Filby’s successful floral displays are an annual feature in the press, on local radio and, occasionally, on television. 2014 saw another first when Britain in Bloom Judging featured on Norwich based Mustard TV as part of their weekly gardening slot, presented by Ellen Mary - who lives at nearby Ormesby. The clip can still be seen at http://www.mustardtv.co.uk/browse/ellen-mary-visits-filby-in-bloom/.Ellen returned on 6th August 2015, shortly before our Britain in Bloom Judging, to film another spot, this time on how the village was preparing to enter the Champion of Champions Category. The programme aired on 12th August and, in it, it was clear that Ellen had taken a shine to In-Bloom’s Percy Hudson! The programme can be seen at http://www.mustardtv.co.uk/browse/ellen-mary-v2-mpeg/Ellen will be back to film, again, on 7th July, this year, as part of a programme featuring towns and villages participating in the 2016 Anglia in Bloom Competition.

Mustard TV’s Ellen Mary interviews Percy Hudson (6th Aug 2015)

The Filby Flyer (Apr 2016)

Adrian Thompson with EDP photographer James Bass and Judges (l to r) Roger Burnett, Kim Parish and Martyn Hird (11th Aug 2015)

Yarmouth Mercury (14th Aug 2015)

Filby in Bloom 2016

C - Community ParticipationContinued

Filby on the Web - C2

Filby relocated and remodeled its website during 2014 and now it can be seen at http://www.filbyinbloom.org.uk. New features include video clip links and the ability to download prior year’s Portfolios. News about Filby in Bloom can also be found on the Village Hall’s website http://www.filbyvillagehall.org.uk. Filby’s activities regularly appear in on-line versions of local and regional newspapers and re-runs of appearances in the broadcast media can be seen on local BBC and ITV web sites.Other Means of Publicity - C2

Awareness is raised in a number of other ways including In-Bloom signs posted within the village, notice boards provided by the Parish Council and posters displayed in the local shops and garden centres.BID - C2

BID (Business Improvement District) is a levy now imposed by the Greater Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement Area (GYTBIA) on all businesses within the borough. The levy is based on rateable value. It was introduced in 2014 after a postal ballot of those businesses and GYTBIA says the money raised benefits all businesses by increasing local employment and local spend. However, the ballot attracted just a 19pc turnout, one of the lowest on record in the country, and more than 250 traders have continued to insist they were never sent information about the BID or ballot forms, and that the results of the vote were never published in accordance with regulations.Notwithstanding this controversy, BID money is, now, supporting 30 projects in the borough and Filby in Bloom has had grants of £2,000 and £3,000, in successive years, to help foster tourism to the villageIn 2014, Britain in Bloom Judges suggested a floral trail round the village and the production of a heritage leaflet. A glossy 24 page pamphlet, Filby, History, Walks and Wildlife, was produced during 2015, using some of Filby’s BID Fund and, at a price of £1, this is now on sale at outlets in the village, with profits going to village charitiesQuiz Night - C5

A major contributor to Filby in Bloom and other local charities is the popular monthly quiz at the Filby Bridge Restaurant. Participants, who need to book well in advance to secure a table, also enjoy a great meal and a raffle for donated prizes. Host and Quiz master Tony Elms entertains, in particular, when he tries to wrap his ‘estuary’ accent around some of the local dialect. Open Gardens Weekend - C3, C4, C5

Open Gardens 2015 took place over the weekend of 18th and 19th July. Fine weather brought in many visitors.Grand Fete - C4

Filby’s 61st Annual Fete was due to be held on the playing field, on last year’s August Bank Holiday Monday. Regrettably, exceptionally heavy rain necessitated its cancellation together with the fireworks display intended for that evening. This was the second successive year that the event had been disrupted by adverse weather and the impact upon the village’s finances was severe.

BID (Jun 2016)

Filby Brochure (8th Jun 2015)

Filby in Bloom’s new website 14th May 2016

Filby in Bloom 2016


Grand Firework Display - C4, C5

Another of the village’s big fundraisers, its Fireworks Display, was held on 1st November. The event was very well attended as, it had been published that, with stock remaining from the cancelled fete display, double the usual number of fireworks would be let off.Christmas Bazaar - C4, C5

The first Christmas Bazaar held in the Village Hall on Saturday 21st November raised £1,011 for village funds. This compared with £485 raised at the same event the previous year held in the Village Club Room, a testimony to the more atractive venue.

Easter Bonanza - C4

On Saturday 19th March, another of the village’s regular fund raisers, an Easter Bonanza, was held in the Village Hall, where Easter eggs, flowers, cuddly toys and local produce were on offer. £720 was raised for the village, another signicant increase on the £427 raised at the same event held in the Club Room the previous year.

Branded Products - C4Filby in Bloom branded products are on sale at the local Shop & Post Office. Available are garden apparel, including polo

shirts, sweat shirts, fleeces and baseball caps, together with postcards, calendars and sweets. Those devilishly difficult quiz sheets make an occasional reappearance but one of the most popular items turned out to be Filby in Bloom’s own award winning, local, real ale, brewed courtesy of Norfolk Square Brewery. The beer’s label featured a logo from the new signs, designed and built by resident Tom Green, that were erected at the entrances to the village in June of 2008. Sadly, as a result of the brewery’s closure, the light amber ale, named appropriately ‘Filby in Bloom’, is no longer available. The opportunities for a replacement are being investigated.Sponsorship - C5

Many companies and individuals have contributed financial and material support to Filby in Bloom over the years, some of whom are recorded here. Others have contributed their time, effort and expertise to particular projects and the In-Bloom team are grateful for all support given, in whatever form.

Anglia Mowers Ashley Clarke Arborialist Ben Burgess

Broadland Nurseries

Burghwood Landscapes Can Man

Colin Smith Monumental

Mason

C.Warton & Partners David Hunt

East Coast WasteEast of England

Apples & Orchards Project

Filby Bridge Restaurant

Filby Parish Council Filby Residents Filby W.I.

Great Yarmouth Council

Martham Hardware

Halls Builders Merchants

Horse and Groom P.H. Rollesby J&M Edwards Kings Head P.H.

Filby

Lotus Cars Norfolk Records Office

Maple Garden Services

Moulton Nurseries Norfolk Square Breweries

Norfolk Waste Management

Services

Norfolk Journal Ormesby Garden Machinery Original Organics

Pan Publicity PKM Studios The Tea JunctionTarget Double

GlazingThurton

Foundries Ltd. W T Skips

Filby in Bloom’s Ale Label (commissioned 15th May 2009)

Some of Filby’s Sponsors (2008 to 2016)

My year in the life of “The Saturday Crew” (AKA The Flower Police)

After judging last year, the “Filby In Blooms” Saturday Crew, did not rest on their laurels!!

As well as maintaining our beautiful village, by weeding, feeding and watering, we pressed on with improvements and repairs to beds and borders.

The end of the Summer found us tucking up geranium and begonia for their winter rest, preparing for the village bonfire night (not to mention cleaning it all up afterwards!), Then on to Christmas decorations throughout the village.

January it was planting the Spring bedding plants at ‘The Pound’, followed by our new project of helping the village school with their vegetable and wildlife garden.

The year has not been without banter and laughter too, which is the fuel that keeps us all going!

Before you know it, we are back to potting - on the thousands of plants which will yet again make Filby the beautiful village that I am proud to be a part of.

Gwen Thurtle

The Old Forge.

Filby in Bloom 2016


Filby Primary School - C3

On May 8th 2008, the staff and pupils at Filby’s only education establishment celebrated the official opening of their school’s £1M transformation from an aging Victorian first school, catering for pupils aged five to eight, to a modern primary school for five to eleven year-olds, which now, typically, number about 80. The school, along with six other local schools (Costessey Junior School, Costessey Infant School, Dell Primary School, Eaton Primary School, Elm Tree Primary School and Wensum Junior School) is, now, part of the Evolution Academy Trust. It already had a school garden and an oversubscribed gardening club. It actively supports Filby in Bloom and is happy to show off its achievements to In-Bloom judges, each year. Participation by pupils has been encouraged by the use of a greenhouse at the school. The greenhouse, a gift from the In-Bloom Committee, in 2009, was re-glazed with plastic paneling, in case of accident, and erected on site by members of the Saturday Crew. In-Bloom makes an annual gift of seed supplies to get the pupils into the ‘growing habit’ for the year’s events. In 2008, the school enrolled in the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, which aims to encourage and support schools to develop and actively use a school garden.

Gardening at Filby Primary School Spring/Summer 2016

The children at Filby Primary School have enjoyed taking part in lots of gardening activities this year. They have learnt more about nature and science and have loved every minute! With the help of the Filby Village gardening group, we have developed our Wildlife and pond area, a vegetable patch and a bug hotel.

The Wildlife AreaThe children have enjoyed using this area immensely. They have planted potatoes and sunflowers here in pots which they water and look after carefully. They have been awaiting the arrival of the shoots and flowers with excitement! The children have learnt about greenhouses, how to plant a seed and what plants and flowers need to grow.We have very kindly been given some frogs spawn which we have looked after in the classroom. This week, we have seen the tadpoles finally transform into tiny frogs! The children have loved watching them grow and change and we have now released them into our pond.

The Vegetable PatchThe children have enjoyed planting, weeding and digging in the vegetable patch and the greenhouse.They have planted:• Potatoes • Radishes • Lettuce • Beans • Beetroot • Sweetcorn • Carrots

The children even made a scarecrow called Max, to keep the birds away!We can’t wait to pull up our lovely vegetables and take them home!

The Bug HotelAs part of learning about growing, nature and healthy eating we have also learnt about insects! The children decided to build a bug hotel for all of our friendly visitors.

Further LearningFollowing up from our work on growing plants and vegetables, the children in Reception and KS1 visited a local restaurant- ‘The Filby Bridge’ to learn about how vegetables and other food is stored and cooked.The Reception children also visited Tesco to see how it is sold! They learnt about food hygiene and why certain foods need to be kept cool.They then had a cookery week where they tried and tasted lots of delicious foods and developed some cookery skills. They made:Tomato bruschetta, biscuits, bread, local free range egg mayonnaise, fruit kebabs and smoothies.

Wendy Yassin, Filby School

Filby School (6th May 2016)



Filby in Bloom 2016


“Notes from a Foreigner from Over the Hill”“ A Recollection of my thoughts from the first year as a member of the Filby-in-bloom gardening team”

Let me explain the title of this recollection. My wife and myself plus our children have been visiting Norfolk on a very regular basis for over thirty years. We first used the facilities of my parent’s caravan and then we were fortunate enough to purchase a holiday apartment in North Norfolk. My wife and I had both worked for the NHS, jointly for over seventy five years in The North West of England. On retirement three years ago we decided we wanted to move to a more rural and less industrial part of the country. We had no hesitation in deciding we would like to live in our retirement in Norfolk. We finally chose Fleggburgh as our new home. We were however told in no uncertain terms when we first moved into the village that we will always be known as “bloody foreigners”. However I was assured that after thirty years people may drop the “bloody”.

Hence the foreigner but why from over the hill? In the North West we lived in the foothills of the Pennines where the villages were mainly situated in the valley separated by an intervening hill. I fully appreciate there are no hills between Fleggburgh and Filby but I have learnt that historically there have been many social and psychological hills that had to be climbed when crossing over the Filby Bridge hence the “from over the hill”

After a couple of years of living in Norfolk I was asked by a friend of my wife if I would like to join the ‘Filby in Bloom Gardening Team’.

I accepted with some trepidation as my knowledge of gardening was somewhat limited and joining a well established, knowledgeable and well respected team at first seemed somewhat daunting. Despite these reservations over twelve months ago I started to support the volunteer team on a Saturday morning. All I can say it has been one of the best decisions I have made maybe a close second to that of choosing my wife

I was welcomed with such warmth and genuine friendship. The team is an eclectic mixture of age, gender, professional background and gardening experience. But whatever my personal limitations proved to be I was welcomed with ‘open arms’ as a full member of the team. After working in the NHS for so long I immediately identified the different culture in the team - I witnessed true democracy on decision making, mutual respect and value for any contributions given to the process. But what was paramount was that everyone was thoroughly enjoying themselves and the “crack” as we call it in the North was so enjoyable with contributions from all members and hardly a minute went by without us all having a good laugh - especially over the mid-morning statutory coffee break.

Our team leader, Adrian, is both charismatic and inspirational. He will never ask anyone to carry out a task he is not prepared to do himself. He leads by example but respects and values the contributions made by his team members. He plans and co-ordinates activities throughout the whole year and the activity is not just geared up to the ‘Filby in Bloom’ summer event. Projects are implemented to improve the local environment involving the community and the local school. Support is given to facilitating local community activities both recreational and fund raising. Without now being involved I would never have known what activity goes on all year round to support and enhance the facilities and environment plus inclusion of the local community

So what about myself - I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience, the comradeship, mutual respect and friendship. I have learnt so much about gardening, not just colourful annual flowers but about perennials, shrubs and also vegetables and fruit. The dialogue is constant and informative.

But on specific areas I have gained knowledge and information in the following -

1) Bee Keeping - a member of the team has helped, advised and encouraged my wife and myself to start bee keeping – an activity that we have both wanted to do since retirement

2) Wood Turning - a member of the team has encouraged me to pursue a personal life-long ambition to learn about wood turning. Having been invited to his workshop it has stimulated me to “turn” my energy to the lathe

3) Chickens - my wife has always had the ambition to keep chickens and as a result of the advice and support from one of the team as well as visiting her own chickens my wife has been able to realise her ambitions.

Finally I was invited by members of the team to help set up a Gardening Club for Filby and District. Our aim is to get local residents involved in gardening especially the young and their parents as well as socially excluded residents and people with physical and emotional problems for whom it has been proven gardening has significant benefits. After only a couple of meetings we have engaged a significant number of members to our club from Filby and the district.

In summary I do not wish to appear to ingratiate and be sycophantic to members of the team but I just wanted to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation of being accepted into a small group of volunteers that give so much to so many.

Nick Dawes

May 2016

Filby in Bloom 2016

The FutureC1

All who participate in In-Bloom do so not for the ‘glittering prizes’ of the competitions but for the good of the community and the most welcome reward is always the positive feedback received from members of the public. All mention how good the village looks, especially so during the summer. Many express this in letters which find their way to the village Post Office.In-Bloomers do take the competitions seriously and endeavour to follow judge’s advice, where appropriate. Committee members attend the awards ceremonies, seminars and surgeries of both Anglia in Bloom and Britain in Bloom, whenever possible. Feedback from the surgeries is reported and discussed at some length. Judges’ comments are analysed and most of their recommendations are put into practice. In the summer months, Filby remains faithful to its floral displays but less visible, however, are some of the longer term projects being undertaken by the In-Bloom team. These include the Community Orchard for the preservation of threatened varieties of apple that used to be grown in Norfolk. In conjunction with Filby Parish Council and the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads Authority, access to the water has been improved by the provision of boardwalks onto both Filby and Ormesby Little Broads and, together with Norfolk Wildlife Trust, In-Bloom works closely to monitor and foster the local wildlife. In 2010, Filby had a grant of £1,500 from the Broads Authority for planting schemes within the village. Roadside planting of trees and hedging continues and Filby’s commitment to the environment is further reflected by its adoption of the RHS initiative to reduce its usage of Peat based composts. Filby in Bloom has developed a close relationship with the local Far East Prisoners of War Association, as part of their joint two year project to establish a permanent memorial within the village to their sacrifice. The community had worked, tirelessly, from 2006, to acquire funds to build a village hall and a notable achievement was to gain a grant of £500,000 from the Reaching Communities Building Fund of BIG Lottery, in 2014, to enable it to be built. Construction started in November 2014 and it was completed on 19th June, the following year.The building has a main hall with a fully equipped stage and an advanced Audio Visual Display System. Full advantage of these facilities had been taken by local acting company, the Broadlands Theatre Group, who have already put on one major play, with others planned for later in the year. There are sports changing rooms that have drawn local teams to make more use of the Playing Field. The Playing Field pitches have come under some criticism from local soccer teams and Norfolk F.A. were invited to undertake an inspection and make recommendations for corrective action. The requisite corrective actions will prove expensive. Never-the-less, the Playing Field Committee are working with Norfolk F.A. to secure the necessary funding.Local reaction to the hall has been very positive and many activities, new to the village, have started to take place, there. Frequent fitness classes are now held in the main hall including Pilates, Zumba and Yoga. Ballet Barres have been installed to facilitate dance. A Cinema Group, which holds screenings of new releases every month, is proving very popular with audiences increasing, month on month. The hall is used by a local craft collective for monthly sales events throughout the year and it has proven a popular venue for many other types of sale including Jumble Sales and similar.Monthly Coffee Mornings are well attended and are a useful source of income for village charities. Some of the special ones, such as the Marie Curie Big Birthday Party, now, bring in several hundreds of pounds to their beneficiaries.A Gardening Club has started at the Hall. It meets on the second Tuesday of each month. Its first speaker was Ellen Mary, who in her capacity as Gardening Presenter for local station, Mustard TV, had featured Filby in Bloom’s activities in her programmes. The Club is already running plant sales and exchanges and is planning garden visits and other social activities later in the year.

In all of this, the village’s treasured Club Room, retained for meetings and small activies, is not being neglected. Sufficient funds have remained from the main building project to tidy up the thatching and to renovate both interior and exterior in order to make it a more attractive venue. To that end, as the village loses its only remaining pub, it is the Playing Field Committee’s intention to start up a regular Social Club evening in the Club Room providing it with its own bar, staffed by volunteers.It is pure pleasure to live in a village with such a great community spirit and it is, indeed, ‘a lovely place to be’.

The new Village Hall (4th Jun 2015)

Filby in Bloom 2016...Filby in Bloom 2016 Page 2 Item Section Page B - Environmental Responsibility...

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Transcript of Filby in Bloom 2016...Filby in Bloom 2016 Page 2 Item Section Page B - Environmental Responsibility...