The local press were in the village centre today taking photos to help publicise the forthcoming Victorian Christmas Spectacular.
Everything is almost in place now for the event on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November. Lets hope for mild weather this year
Once again, this year, the Trust is supporting this community event, organised by the Shotley Bridge Business & Community Partnership.
It is being held in the village on the 25th & 26th November.
On Friday evening the Christmas Tree will be lit with music and carol singing in the ‘square’.
On Saturday morning Santa will arrive by horse and carriage after which there will be carriage rides through the village centre. The Methodist Church will be hosting the afternoon’s entertainment and all the churches and village hall are providing refreshments at their Fayre or open day.
This is a charity event with 75% of all the money raised going to Willow Burn and 25% to the Trust’s ‘Blooming Shotley Bridge’ fund.
The participating businesses are funding all the expenses of the Spectacular and 15,000 leaflets are to be distributed soon, showing the programme of events.
You can click here for a preview of the flyer.
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 