Two volunteers spent yesterday evening painting the heritage board and seats in the ‘Triangle’ in readiness for the Northumbria in Bloom judging next week.
The recent warm and sunny weather is helping the hanging baskets, tubs and barrier baskets to come into full bloom.
The Trust celebrated its 25th anniversary at the AGM last Tuesday. Councillor Stephen Robinson cut the cake and everybody else ate it.
There was an exhibition of the work of the Trust over the last 25 years and a ‘Then & Now’ display of village photos.
The Open Meeting discussed the County Council’s detailed proposals for urban realm improvements in the village centre but more estimates are needed before a final list of schemes can be agreed.
At the Trust’s Open Meeting last night a cheque for £1,030 was presented to Sue Fox, representing Willow Burn hospice, on behalf of the Shotley bridge Business & Community Partnership. The money was 75% of the charity collection during the Dickensian Christmas Spectacular plus contributions from the Eve Fashion Show and Imago Raffle. £340 was raised for the Blooming Shotley Bridge fund.
Presentations were also given by Dawn Reed [Durham County Council] on options for improving the village centre, and Sue Shaw [Blooming Shotley Bridge] about the Northumbria in Bloom entry.
[Click on an image to start a slide show]
Today the judges from Northumbria in Bloom came to assess the Trust’s entry in the ‘village’ category. 25% of the total score is awarded at this visit. They walked around most of the Conservation Area, the area entered in the competition.
The summer judging will take place on the 18th July.
Thank you to the twenty five volunteers who turned out on a sunny morning yesterday, to pick up litter within the Conservation Area and sweep the paths in the village centre. The photos show some of the volunteers and bags of rubbish that were collected.
The dog fouling is quite bad this year – it may only be a couple of dog owners who are not picking up after their dog but the mess it creates when people walk in it stays around until the next heavy rain. Please report any that you see to the local authority, telephone 03000261000, particularly if you know the date and time it happened so that the Neighbourhood Wardens can try to catch and fine the culprits.
Shotley Bridge Village Trust 