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Archive News - 2009  (newer at top)          Current news click here

Mon 21 December 2009: Very sadly, one of the founder members of Portishead in Bloom, Joan Fowles has died and her funeral was held on the 21st December at the URC Church. Joan had a wonderfully warm personality and it was largely because of her dedication to Portishead in Bloom that the group was able to get off the ground in its early days. We are hoping to commemorate the life of Joan with some shrub and tree planting on the Lakegrounds in 2010.

Fri 11 December 2009: At the Victorian Evening we raised £135 by selling mistletoe, holly and potted-up hyacinth bulbs etc. Photo1 Photo2.

Fri 9 October 2009: South-West in Bloom has given us 3 huge sacks of narcissi bulbs to plant, so we are holding a mass bulb planting event on Sunday 18th October from 9.00 am onwards.

Fri 2 October 2009: At our AGM Gordon Randall retired as chairman and was given a good send off with a collage of photos from the Portishead in Bloom committee together with a plaque from the chair of Portishead Town Council. The John Daws cup was awarded to the Open Air Swimming Pool run by the Community Trust.

Fri 25 Sept 2009: At the National Finals of Britain in Bloom, held in Torquay this week, Portishead won Gold in the Urban Community category. We were up against Manchester City Centre, Birmingham City Centre, Glasgow, Leeds etc. We were one of two awarded Gold, Birmingham being the category winner. The Committee would like to thank everyone who contributed to this achievement. Click for photo of some members of Portishead in Bloom group with the awards.

Thurs. 17 Sept 2009: At the South West Regional Finals of Britain in Bloom, Portishead received a Gold Medal once again. As well as this, Portishead was awarded the Sargent Cup for the “most outstanding effort and dedication in the competition”.

We also received seven awards in the Neighbourhood Awards section, as follows:

Kingsway Park, Seville Road - Improvement

Norewood Lodge - Merit

Portishead Primary School - Merit

Victoria Court Gardens - Improvement

Pembroke Road Flats - Improvement

The Deans Allotments - Improvement

St Peter's Church Millennium Garden - Outstanding

Fri 14 August: We were judged by two judges today. They seemed impressed with what Portishead has to offer, but we must await the results in September.

Sun 14 June / Thurs 18 June: Portishead in Bloom with a group of our "Friends of Portishead in Bloom" painted the railings at the Viewing Point at Eastwood along Woodlands Road. The whole of the railings were prepared, under coated and top coated on Sunday, 14th June and Thursday, 18th June. 18 people turned up on the two days and the whole enterprise saved North Somerset Council £1,500 which was what it had been estimated to have cost by an outside contractor. It took about 55 hours in all. Photo.

Sat 6 / Sun 7 June: The annual Open Gardens Weekend took place in adverse weather.

Sunday 31 May: The baskets have been put on the carousels and the tubs planted up with our colour scheme this year which is purple and orange. About 15 volunteers turned out on Sunday to plant up the tubs.

Saturday 30 May: Our plant sale day took place outside of Iceland when we made over £300 selling annual bedding plants. Photo.

The Open Gardens group is putting the final touches towards the weekend of 6th/7th June when we will have 16 gardens open to the public from 10.30 - 5.00 pm. Open Gardens Programme (cost £4.00 each) now available.

Sunday 15 March: Members and volunteers planted a 120 metre long indigenous hedge in Esplanade Road, near the Open Air Swimming Pool. This has replaced the existing dilapidated lonicera nitida hedge. (photo).The old hedge was removed by North Somerset Council, then the new hedge was planted up by about 20 volunteers (photo). The following day (16th March), the hedge was watered, mulched and then enclosed in chestnut paling (photo) which has to stay on for two years so that the hedge is protected against damage. This was a partnership event between Portishead in Bloom and North Somerset Council, with help from local residents.

Friday 6 March 2009: We launched our entry into the National Finals in August and launched this website.

We have been entered for the South West Britain in Bloom competition for the last ten years. Last year we were not only awarded a GOLD MEDAL but were also awarded the PORTMAN CUP for being the best in the group. This competition is judged during mid-July.

This year, we have been entered for the URBAN COMMUNITY GROUP competition in the National Finals for Britain in Bloom and will be up against fierce competition nation-wide. We will be judged during August 2009. The area to be judged will be the regenerated area around the old docks and previous industrial heart of Portishead, (now named the Marina, Port Marine and the Village Quarter); together with the coastal region of Battery Point, the Lakegrounds and Eastwood.

     

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