Yesterday, two judges from Northumbria in Bloom were escorted around the village by members of the ‘Blooming’ committee.
They seemed impressed with what they were shown during the 2 hour walkabout. But we won’t know until September how well we did.
Thank you to all the businesses, residents, school and volunteers for putting on such a good show.
The local PCSOs have been into the schools regularly talking to the kids about various subjects, such as the effects of irresponsible dog owners.
They recently ran a competition with Shotley Bridge Junior School, with all the pupils designing a dog fouling poster. Two were chosen from each class as winners. All the children were keen to be involved in the posters.
Before breaking up for the summer holidays, the winners took their posters to put up near the school and around the village.
Also known as the ‘Hen Run’, the well used footpath between Briary Gardens and The Terrace has been ‘adopted’ by the Trust as a wildlife conservation area, as a part of its Blooming Shotley Bridge Initiative.
This week a dozen volunteers have been cutting back the overgrown vegetation which has been taken for composting, by the County Council. The stream has been cleared and debris removed. Bulb and wildflower planting has been undertaken to improve the site’s biodiversity and habitats for wildlife have been created, including a stone and wood sculpture at the bottom entrance. A ‘bug hotel’, bat and bird boxes have been made by volunteers and school children.
A project to restore some of the undiscovered features of one of the North East’s most historic landscape is progressing with support from the National Lottery Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The Land of Oak and Iron Landscape Partnership is now in its development phase leading up to a stage 2 submission in 2015. HLF have earmarked a £2.2m grant towards the £3.4m 4 year delivery programme aimed to commence in 2016.
The project area includes most of the Derwent Valley. The area has a fascinating heritage that stretches back to the Roman era and was since home to lead and coal mining, coke production and world leading iron, steel and sword making. The multi-agency Partnership led by Groundwork NE aims to restore some surviving traces of that industrial heritage as well as protecting much of the area’s woodland, wetland and river based natural heritage; all of which will be brought to life by harnessing the areas’ rich cultural heritage.
The Landscape Partnership will also improve access, help promote the area to visitors and engage local communities in activities to discover, learn about and celebrate the area. The partnership is currently undertaking a number of feasibility studies and community consultation events exploring and developing project ideas that will harness and promote the unique heritage for generations to come.
The nearest consultation event is in Consett on 8 July.
This morning, 22 volunteers from the Trust planted the tubs and troughs with over 1000 sumer bedding plants.
Antirrhinum, Tagetes, Bidens and Lobelia were planted to give a mix of yellow, orange and white flowers, in celebration of the RHS Britain in Bloom 50th anniversary this year.
Shotley Bridge Village Trust 
