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Sunday 23 June 2013

Sidmouth in Bloom

WELCOME
Sidmouth in Bloom (SIB) is a voluntary group that aims to raise the horticultural, environmental and community awareness throughout the town.
The group this year has entered the South West in Bloom competition in the Coastal Town category. It has also been invited to enter the International Communities in Bloom emanating from Ottawa, Canada.
The town has many voluntary groups that help protect and maintain its natural parks:
The SVA [
Sid Vale Association - Welcome to the Sid Vale Association Website], the FoByes [Friends of The Byes / Sidmouth BEE Project | Facebook] and the SCA [Sidmouth Arboretum - Home].
The SIB acts as an umbrella to link these groups in the RHS Britain in Bloom Competition [Britain in Bloom / RHS Gardening], as well as encouraging individuals to take part in “In Your Neighbourhood” schemes and to initiate projects such as the ‘Sidcombers’, a beach clean-up group.

SIB will be joining the Vision Group for Sidmouth's AGM as members of a panel presenting ideas on 'sustainable development'. Futures Forum: Vision Group for Sidmouth AGM 26th June: poster
And this is at the heart of their latest project:


Yummy! Town flower beds get edible additions
Chairman of Sidmouth in bloom Lynette Talbot and member Bobby Stacey restore Gilbert to his former glory. Photo by Terry Ife ref shs 3302-23-13TI To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk and click on myphotos24   
Chairman of Sidmouth in bloom Lynette Talbot and member Bobby Stacey restore Gilbert to his former glory. Photo by Terry Ife 

FLORAL displays in Sidmouth have been given a tasty twist this year – with vegetables being planted alongside blooms.
Residents have been told they can eventually tuck into treats like small butternut squash, tumbling tomatoes, parsley and kale among the marigolds at a plot near the Roxburgh car park.
They can even pick rhubarb at the pinch point in Station Road.
The food, planted last month as part of an ‘edible Britain’ theme, is currently covered and off-limits while it grows.
Hard-working Sidmouth in Bloom volunteers are behind the initiative.
Townsfolk have been asked to act responsibly when it is ready to be consumed.
“It’s receiving lots of good comments and it’s good to have something different,” said bloom chairman Lynette Talbot. “People can pick the veg as long as they do so carefully and in moderation.”
Lynette and colleagues have been busy planting Gilbert the sculpture and tidying Annie’s garden in Blackmore Gardens.

The theme this year of Britain in Bloom is 'edible Britain':


Edible gardens to appear in public spaces
11 January 2013
RHS Britain in Bloom 2013

Edible Gardens will appear in public spaces across the UK when RHS Britain in Bloom 2013 launches in April. Streets across the UK will be lined with herbs and vegetables for local people to harvest for years to come, thanks to the launch.

‘Edible Britain’ is the theme of Britain in Bloom 2013, which will see community gardening groups create 2,000 edible gardens in public spaces around the country between 7 and 14 April.
RHS community gardening groups, of which there are more than 5,000, can apply for free edible seeds, provided by the RHS. A total of 30,000 packets of seeds, such as chives, dill, parsley, carrots, coriander, spring onions, red frills mustard, edible flowers such as nasturtiums and marigolds, and much more, will be distributed to 2,000 gardening groups.
Stephanie Eynon, RHS Community Horticulture Manager, said: “Britain in Bloom isn’t just about pretty hanging baskets brightening up gloomy streets, it’s about improving the environment, enhancing lives and bringing communities together through gardening. ‘Edible Britain’ will see new public herb and vegetable gardens planted across the UK, bringing access to tasty produce to thousands.”
More than 200,000 people devote almost 4.4 million hours each year to enhancing their community through the Britain in Bloom campaign, saving the country thousands of pounds. On average, groups plant 115,000 trees, 352,000 shrubs and 21.6 million plants and bulbs across the nation each year.
The social impacts of participating in Britain in Bloom are as significant as the environmental and visual benefits. An RHS survey found that 90% of groups claim the biggest benefit of participating in the campaign is community development and more than 50% of groups have seen a clear decline in crime and anti-social behaviour.
Britain in Bloom aims to promote a healthy lifestyle across all generations. ‘Edible Britain’ will engage children in growing fresh produce, which is a well-established way to increase interest in healthy eating because it encourages a more knowledgeable relationship with their food. Community growing also allows older people to stay active, feel less isolated and gain a greater sense of purpose.
Britain in Bloom was set up in 1964 as a tourist initiative but since the RHS took over in 2002 it has grown into one of Europe’s largest community gardening and environmental campaigns involving villages, towns, cities, urban communities and neighbourhood groups across the country. It is also the UK’s biggest voluntary campaign.
Anybody can set up or join their nearest group by typing in their postcode into an online map. 

Earlier in the year, SIB's success was about to go international:


World domination looms for Sidmouth in Bloom
Stephen Sumner Thursday, January 24, 2013 

Sidmouth in Bloom's Lynette Talbot and Peter Endersby and Sam Hayle and her daughter Emily tidy up Connaught Gardens last summer, but will the town's floral features clean up on a global scale?. Picture by Alex Walton. Ref shs 8784-31-12AW. To order your copy of this photograph, go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk and click on myphotos24
Sidmouth in Bloom's Lynette Talbot and Peter Endersby and Sam Hayle and her daughter Emily tidy up Connaught Gardens last summer, but will the town's floral features clean up on a global scale?. Picture by Alex Walton.

WORLD domination is blossoming from Sidmouth’s top floral displays after the town was invited to take part in an international competition. As a Britain in Bloom Silver award winner, the Canadian organisation Communities in Bloom chose the town alongside others from America, Ireland, Japan and Europe.
Sidmouth in Bloom treasurer Peter Endersby said he believes the town is the only one in the region to have been chosen and that South West in Bloom will support the entry. “The international challenge will present the opportunity for cultural promotion, exchange of flags with other municipalities and high visibility during awards and presentations.”
He added that it will boost the media promotion of Sidmouth as an important venue in the South West.
The Sidmouth in Bloom committee learned last year of the importance of promotion to competition success, and the efforts need the support of businesses, hotels, attractions and transport.
Sidmouth is going for Gold in the regional competition in this year’s regional and the same accolade in the 2014 Britain in Bloom.
The town will have additional troughs, baskets and displays, and there are several other initiatives in hand.
Communities in Bloom is judged on eight key criteria: tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscape, turf and groundcovers, floral displays and community involvement.
The organisers say they are committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of an international programme, which will benefit all of society.

SIB organise the 'Secluded Gardens' event every year:


OPEN GARDENS
Visit Sidmouth's 'Secluded Gardens' 
open from Friday 5th - Sunday 7th, and Saturday 13th - Monday 15th of July 2013.
Tickets available from the Sidmouth Tourist Information Bureau from late May. ​
 
​Byes Reach
Edible garden, espalier fruit corridors, herbaceous borders, pond and rockery surrounding the greenhouse and studio.

This event happens every year, is very popular and raises funds for SIB:
Open gardens to boost Sidmouth in Bloom - News - Sidmouth Herald
Sidmouth couple strike gold on first attempt - News - Sidmouth Herald

Floral Sidmouth

Floral Sidmouth
Britain’s top floral seaside town
Sidmouth in Bloom - ‘Secluded Gardens’
Saturday 6th - Monday 8th July and
Friday 12th - Sunday 14th July 2013

Sidmouth in Bloom opens its ‘Secluded Gardens’ once again to the public on Saturday 6th - Monday 8th July and Friday 12th - Sunday 14th July. Money raised by this event goes towards the floral displays in the town. 

Britain’s top floral seaside town

Tickets and further information are available from June 2013 from the Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre

Refreshments and cakes are available at most venues.




Floral Sidmouth Britain’s top floral seaside town - Sidmouth in Bloom - Visit Sidmouth

There's also an element of civic pride:

Spruce Up Sidmouth campaign launched
Stefan Gordon Monday, July 2, 2012 

Stuart Hughes and Lynette Talbot
RESIDENTS have been urged to Spruce Up Sidmouth (SUS) and help the town score national floral glory.
Sidmouth in Bloom leaders have issued a call to arms and urged householders to grab hoes, brooms and buckets and target scruffy central spots that could do with a tidy-up. They hope community spirit will mean Friday the 13th will be lucky for the town – as that is the date Britain in Bloom judges are set to visit the resort.
“It’s time the town needed a wash down,” said Sidmouth in Bloom chairman Lynette Talbot. She added that volunteers are being sought to help clean up the town, especially places like Market Place, seafront shelters, Fore Street and High Street on Wednesday and Thursday, July 11 and 12.
Lynette and fellow bloom committee member, Councillor Stuart Hughes launched the SUS campaign on Tuesday. The duo this week also welcomed the completion of a one-off floral crown in Blackmore Gardens to mark the Diamond Jubilee. The £1,300 display was funded by Cllr Hughes’ county locality budget.

For the history of SIB and an impressive gallery:
Sidmouth Town Website - Sidmouth Town Website - Gallery - Category: Sidmouth in Bloom

Joy Seward retired recently as President of SIB:
Joy Seward has, for over 40 years, served her community in Sidmouth as the President and Chief Executive of Sidmouth in Bloom – a self-funding voluntary sector organisation ensuring that Sidmouth sets and maintains exceptional standards in floral and horticultural presentation for the benefit and enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.
Through Joy’s work community spirit is enhanced and the prestige of the town as a holiday destination is maintained.  Her work with Sidmouth in Bloom has won Sidmouth the reputation as the floral role model for all others to follow
Mrs Joy Seward received the BEM award for services to the community through Sidmouth in Bloom in East Devon | News centre

SIB have a stall at the VGS Community Market every month:
Sidmouth In Bloom | EVENTS

Sidmouth College is also involved in SIB:
Triple success at Sidmouth in Bloom (26.10.12) at Sidmouth College

For another perspective, perhaps rather out of date...
britain in bloom
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