Article from the November 2015 Stoke Gabriel News
Village Flowerbeds and Planters
Since Stoke Gabriel in Bloom sadly had to give up the fantastic work they did in looking after our flowerbeds and planters, there has been no co-ordinated approach to ensure our village is looking at its best. While some residents have taken responsibility for areas near their homes and the Parish Council has employed Plandscape, a Grounds Maintenance company from Exeter, to look after others, the overall appearance year round has been decidedly mixed.
As a gardener who regularly walks round the village, I am often saddened by what I see, and know many residents feel the same. Surely the time has come to look at a different approach, maybe a less high maintenance one, involving local volunteers, and maybe considering paying some of our local gardeners. It would be lovely to have our green spaces looking colourful and tidy throughout the year, and maybe, in time, we could include areas in the new housing developments. Our efforts could also be beneficial to our wildlife, particularly pollinators and invertebrates which are increasingly threatened.
There is considerable advice and support available for communities looking to take on tasks such as these both from Devon County Council and relevant charities.
Devon County Council’s Tough Choices
https://new.devon.gov.uk/communities/
Buglife Community Toolkit
https://www.buglife.org.uk/community-toolkit
Plantlife
http://www.plantlife.org.uk/
I would be happy to take on initial co-ordination, so please contact me if you can help in any way, whether with ideas or practical help. While there will be a lot to do initially, I envisage maintenance will be limited to minor tidying once plants are established. Of course there will always be opportunities to add annual flowers and bulbs for extra interest during some times of the year.
Some of you may also be interested in the National Plant Monitoring Scheme.
http://www.npms.org.uk/
Helen Kummer
Ring me on 782319 or email [email protected]
Village Flowerbeds and Planters
Since Stoke Gabriel in Bloom sadly had to give up the fantastic work they did in looking after our flowerbeds and planters, there has been no co-ordinated approach to ensure our village is looking at its best. While some residents have taken responsibility for areas near their homes and the Parish Council has employed Plandscape, a Grounds Maintenance company from Exeter, to look after others, the overall appearance year round has been decidedly mixed.
As a gardener who regularly walks round the village, I am often saddened by what I see, and know many residents feel the same. Surely the time has come to look at a different approach, maybe a less high maintenance one, involving local volunteers, and maybe considering paying some of our local gardeners. It would be lovely to have our green spaces looking colourful and tidy throughout the year, and maybe, in time, we could include areas in the new housing developments. Our efforts could also be beneficial to our wildlife, particularly pollinators and invertebrates which are increasingly threatened.
There is considerable advice and support available for communities looking to take on tasks such as these both from Devon County Council and relevant charities.
Devon County Council’s Tough Choices
https://new.devon.gov.uk/communities/
Buglife Community Toolkit
https://www.buglife.org.uk/community-toolkit
Plantlife
http://www.plantlife.org.uk/
I would be happy to take on initial co-ordination, so please contact me if you can help in any way, whether with ideas or practical help. While there will be a lot to do initially, I envisage maintenance will be limited to minor tidying once plants are established. Of course there will always be opportunities to add annual flowers and bulbs for extra interest during some times of the year.
Some of you may also be interested in the National Plant Monitoring Scheme.
http://www.npms.org.uk/
Helen Kummer
Ring me on 782319 or email [email protected]