Having won Gold Awards in the 'Britain in Bloom' competition in both 2018 and 2019, Alderley Edge in Bloom took a two year break due to covid restrictions.
However, the group are now busy making plans to return to the competition which aims to encourage the improvement of our surroundings through the imaginative use of flowers, shrubs, trees and landscaping. It also aims to achieve a litter free and sustainable environment.
Bloom group Chair Leslie Cox said " It's exciting to be back in the competition! We will be working hard to create and maintain attractive environments in the village that benefit residents and visitors alike.
"We will again be focussed on the RHS three key themes which are: Horticultural excellence, Community involvement and Environmental friendliness.
"We have plenty to show the Judges when they visit in late July or early August. There's the many village planter displays, the Chorley Hall Lane community allotment, the Waitrose woodland area, Lydiat Lane, Ivygate at the top of Brook Lane and the Station garden where we work closely with the Alderley Edge Station Volunteer group.
"The judges have previously enjoyed visits up to the Edge, the village park, private gardens including Peter Woollam's gem of an organic garden and local schools. Preparing the route for the judges is a major challenge in itself!"
The Bloom group are looking for more volunteers to help with the 2022 competition entry. Gardening, watering and litter picking teams will be very active over the coming months and extra pairs of hands are always welcome. No specific experience is required and it's free to participate.
Here are just some of the activities they have planned for early May. The watering activities will ramp up as summer begins and there will be a major litter pick of the bypass.
- Monday May 2 10.00 - 11.00 Litter picking in the village
- Monday May 2 11.00 - 12.00 Meet for coffee in Cafe Nero
- Tuesday May 3 10.00 - 11.00 Gardening at Ivygate
- Wednesday May 4 10.00 - 11.00 Gardening at the station
- Friday May 6 10.00 - 11.00 Gardening at Waitrose woodland and watering/tidying the village planters
- Saturday May 7 11.00 - 12.00 Gardening at the allotment
- Monday May 9. 10.00 - 11.00 Litter picking in the village
- Monday May 9 11.00 - 12.00 Meet for coffee in Cafe Nero
- Tuesday May 10 10.00 - 11.00 Gardening at Ivygate
- Wednesday May 11 10.00 - 11.00 Gardening at the station
- Friday May 13 10.00 - 11.00 Gardening at Waitrose woodland and watering/tidying the village planters
- Saturday May 14 11.00 - 12.00 Gardening at the allotment
The Bloom team will have a stall at the Alderley Edge May Fair on Saturday 21st May where you will be able to talk with volunteers about the group, purchase plants and try your luck on the fundraising Tombola.
Alderley Edge in Bloom is self funded and relies on donations from the local business community, the generosity of individual supporters and its own fundraising events.
Contact Leslie Cox by email if you would like to get involved with the Bloom group as a volunteer or wish to make a donation [email protected]
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
I think that's one of several very important jobs that CE Council fail to do.
Thanks for your question. I would like to reassure you that we still have a Parish Lengthsman; this week he has trimmed back the hedgerow on Ryleys Lane (from the junction with London Road, to the Car Park entrance), as well as the hedgerow between the children’s play area and tennis courts in the park. In recent weeks, he has also removed foliage around our Speed Indicator Devices on Congleton Road and Brook Lane.
Kind regards,
Craig
I’m sure we all want to see tidy footpaths in and around Alderley Edge.
Alderley Edge in Bloom group do what we can to help grow pride in our village with flower displays in the village , litter picking and keeping a community allotment.
We can only do so much in line with our current number of volunteers. Sadly we have seen a drop in active volunteering since Covid and currently don’t have the capacity to clear overgrown footpaths.
I believe the Lengthsman usually works on Thursdays directed and paid for by the Alderley Edge Parish Council. I saw him working last week .
How about you contact the Parish Council with specific examples of overgrown footpaths and see if they can direct the lengthsman to clear the worst spots ? It maybe they can engage Ansa in clearing the major problem areas.
If anyone would like to become an active volunteer for the Bloom Group, please contact our Chair , Leslie Cox
Perhaps now you recognise that our small group of Alderley Edge in Bloom volunteers are about village enhancement and not responsible for covering Cheshire East Council/ Parish Council responsibilities .
As you clearly recognise there are areas for improvement in the village , you would be most welcome to come and actively join us to make more of a differences.
Look forward to hearing from you!