Exeter communities go for gold

Green fingered volunteers are coming together to improve gardens, streets and green spaces all over the city for this years’ RHS Britain in Bloom competition.

Building on last year's successes, four ‘Villages’ entries from St David's, St Thomas, St James and Wonford will each be working to achieve top awards for their neighbourhood.

Incorporating more 20 different spaces, Exeter’s entries are will be judged on their community involvement, choice and skills in planting, and their environmental good practice. Groups will present a collection of neighbouring spaces for judging as ‘villages' this July. Though fruits of their labours will be on show this summer, they have been working tirelessly all year.

In city centre, the St David’s Neighbourhood Partnership has mobilised volunteers from local residents, Exeter University Student Wardens, St David’s Primary School and even staff from M&S to help their entries shine. Historic Bartholomew’s Cemetery and Priory Garden on Mint Lane will each show how horticulture can help reduce antisocial behaviour and make historic landmarks blossom. While residential spaces like Little Silver and Richmond Road on St David’s Hill will show how greener streets make life better for local people. This year they have carried out a number of projects to make the ward cleaner and greener with help from individuals funding from Sainsbury's, St David's Launderette, Devon & Cornwall Housing Association, Exeter University, The Exeter Board and Exeter Parks Watch.

The Exeter St James Forum is coordinating the entry for the ward which will include Bury Meadow Park, Queen’s Crescent Garden, Devonshire Place Orchard, Powderham Crescent Garden and the St James Park station and the allotments. St Sidwell’s Community Centre will be entering for the first time and the organisers hope that even more green spaces will consider joining the scheme in 2016. Organiser Di Boston, urges local residents to support the entry by encouraging ‘neighbours to have their gardens, window boxes, looking their best in July. We will all benefit from seeing them and that’s the month when the judges will be visiting us.’ Each project has been a labour of love for local residents associations and organisations, yielding real tangible results for which they earned a silver award in 2014.

West of the river, St Thomas residents are hoping to best their 2014 Silver Gilt award with an entry to include elements of Cowick Street, Cowick Lane Allotments, St Thomas Pleasure Grounds, Pinces Gardens, and the Sensory Garden at St Thomas Methodist Church. In a bold new initiative for 2015, they have also established the Friends of St Thomas Station to plan murals and greenery on station platforms. Working with local businesses and residents they have wide ranging plans to continue to improve the area for the years to come.

New to the competition is ‘Wonford Village’ who are bringing multiple organisations together for the competition. Community Organiser Sue Bulled says that Wonford’s Wasp project, TLC, CroP, Wonford Methodist church, Wonford Community & Learning Centre, The Chestnut Centre, Children’s Centre and St Paul’s Green have each ‘taken up the challenge to make their spaces greener!’ She is bolstered by an enthusiastic team of volunteers who want to ‘turn unkempt, unloved areas in the neighbourhood into lovely areas that everyone can enjoy.’

RHS Judges Andy Cole and John Noble will be arriving for two days in July to assess the entries. To get the gold, each 'village' will have to demonstrate excellence in horticulture, community and environment. Dates for the judging will be announced early next month and everyone living in the 'Village' is asked to contribute in some small way by tidying front gardens, picking up litter, adding some bright tubs of flowers to shops or turning a grey street green. Christine Fraser, a Britain in Bloom South West regional Judge and the Britain in Bloom South West Coordinator for the City says, 'Exeter's re-entry into Britain in Bloom after many years of absence has provided a real opportunity for us all to show off the superb community spirit and volunteering efforts which demonstrate our pride in our City.'

For information on volunteering or putting your green space forward for Britain in Bloom please get in touch with the city’s Britain in Bloom support, the Exeter Green Partnership, at exetergreenpartnership@gmail.com.