The six baskets on the railings leading down to the bridge have been planted with winter bedding by Durham County Council.
The barrier baskets have been purchased by the Village Trust, as part of the Britain in Bloom Initiative.
[Click on photos to enlarge]
A planter has been purchased by the Trust and planted with daffodils and winter pansies. Daffodils have also been planted around it.
It has been positioned on Riverside where a water trough used to be, providing drinking water for horses.
The cost has been met from Councillor Stephen Robinson’s members initiative fund. He has also provided finance for some barrier baskets which are to be placed alongside the road leading down to the bridge. Also the landscaped area in ‘The Triangle’ is to be replanted as part of the same project.
On Saturday morning volunteers from the Trust took out the summer bedding from the tubs and planted 500 daffodil bulbs and 900 winter pansies. Thank you to all the members who helped. [Click on photo to enlarge.]
At the October Open Meeting last Wednesday, Paul Atkinson, Rivers Officer of the Tyne Rivers Trust, gave an interesting presentation about the work of that Trust, particularly in relation to the River Derwent.
For more information, visit their website.
Clare Singleton gave an update about Blooming Shotley Bridge and the RHS ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood Award’. It was generally agreed that the village should enter the Northumbria in Bloom competition proper next year. Four certificates and £10 Beveridge vouchers were presented to the best Front Gardens in the Trust’s Award Scheme, as selected by the Northumbria in Bloom visiting judge.
Garth Johnson talked about the judging for the photo competition and Jeff Singleton outlined the Trust’s involvement in the Victorian Christmas Spectacular, being held at the end of November. Volunteers would be needed again to help steward the event. Councillor Stephen Robinson gave his report on the local issues which he had been involved with since the last meeting.
In Durham Town Hall this evening, Blooming Shotley Bridge was awarded the highest category of ‘outstanding’ in the RHS ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood Award’. The judge had awarded the Trust 87/100 points.
This year there had been 46 entries from across the region in this non-competitive award scheme, organised by the Northumbria in Bloom committee.
A big Thank You to all the businesses, residents and volunteers who helped the Trust achieve success.
Shotley Bridge Village Trust 