JUDGES from Anglia in Bloom were back in Fenland this week, taking a look at stunning floral displays in March and Wisbech.
• IN the searing heat of Monday morning, judges took a look at a number of sites around March, which won a silver gilt award last year.
Areas visited included the memorial garden next to Trinity Church, All Saints Interchurch Academy, FACET in Marwick Road and West End Park.
Representatives of the March Street Pride/In Bloom Group, which organises the town’s entry, also accompanied the judges to take a look at hanging baskets and floral troughs in the High Street, Market Square and Broad Street, as well as the railway station where 14 tubs have been planted on the platforms,
Judges also visited the West End DIY store, where the Street Pride group has worked with the manager and the community payback team to renovate the gardens there, with all plants and shrubs being donated by the store.
Street Pride volunteer Frances Murray said: “We are hoping to maintain or improve our result from last year. But we have to wait until September to get the results of our efforts.”
• WISBECH has won a gold medal for the last five years - and judges viewed some of the new floral areas in the town on Monday.
They included Centenary Garden at Octavia Hill’s Birthplace House, the bee garden on the corner of Somers Road and the 50-metre long herb garden at The Boathouse.
They also saw sponsored flower planters in The Crescent, Market Place and North Brink, the garden at the Octavia View hostel and the fantasy garden at St Peter’s Church, based on ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’.
Other areas that came under scrutiny included Wisbech Park, St Peter’s Junior School, the gardens at Peckover House and Elgood’s Brewery and the disused Wisbech General Cemetery.
Secretary of Wisbech in Bloom, Penny Stocks, said: “The weather has been warmer this year and the flowers looked their best for the Anglia in Bloom judges.
“We are now preparing for Sunday, when judges from Britain in Bloom are due to visit Wisbech, which is representing the region in the large town category.
“We have swept the streets, picked up thousands of cigarette butts, litterpicked the town and painted bollards and posts to make sure the town looks at its best.
“We have done the best we can, but in the Britain in Bloom competition we are up against towns including Tunbridge Wells and St Helier, so the competition is very tough.”
• ON Tuesday, judges were back in Wisbech to inspect the Waterlees in Bloom entry, in the regeneration category of the competition.
They visited domestic gardens, the Rose Lodge care home, The Spinney adventure playground and Orchards Primary School.
The theme at Waterlees was ‘grow your own’ and the group used the golden anniversary of the town’s Rose Fair as inspiration for its entry.
Chris Stevens, Oasis centre manager, said: “The judges looked at the communal garden we share with Age UK and the Orchards Primary School. They seemed very impressed with the community groups who have taken part.
“We have won silver for the past two years, so we are now hoping for gold.”
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