Some of us have been banging on about this for years: municipal planting of hybrids in neat rows and co-ordinated colours is all very well, but these plants do little or nothing to provide vital pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinators.

As we reported in October 2010, one group in Sherborne has taken up the challenge to provide a wildflower haven for butterflies and bees on the site of a working electricity sub-station. The ground around the sub-station building had been abandoned and derelict for decades and, with the permission of the energy company and the town council, the group of friends has taken over the garden. They have spent the past 18 months clearing the site: digging up the undergrowth, weed-killing, stone picking, rubbish clearing, levelling the ground and generally tidying up the place.

And now, at last, the site is ready to be planted with seeds. On 9 May a group of volunteers aged from 3 to 73 years of age planted the site with a seed mix donated by Clive Farrell, the international butterfly expert, who lives in a neighbouring village.

This project is just one example in our town of people taking the initiative and working to transform the environment for the benefit of all inhabitants, human and otherwise.

The Castleton Sub-station Wildflower Garden will convert an eye-sore into an attraction that the community can be proud of – well done to all the guerrilla gardeners!

The royal train drew up to Sherborne station right on time, just as the drizzle of rain stopped.

The Queen and Duke got off the train to greet the reception party. Here the major of Sherborne, Cllr Marjorie Snowden, is presented to Her Majesty.

As the Queen emerged from the station she was greeted by a peal of the Abbey bells and an enthusiastic crowd who had come to welcome her.

And the Duke smiled and joked with the flag-wavers as they shouted their greetings:

The royal party visited Sherborne Abbey where they met schoolchildren in a tent having a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and they also visited a food fair in the Abbey grounds. Then they dropped into the Digby Memorial Hall to join a 1950s-style coffee morning in celebration of the Queen’s coronation in 1953.

Sherborne is honoured to have the Queen visit our town – the only stop in Dorset in the Diamond Jubilee tour.

All too soon the visit was over and the Queen and Duke waved goodbye as their car took them back to the station:

Thank you for visiting Sherborne, Your Majesty – please come again soon!

Guests were welcomed by the Mayor Cllr. Marjorie Snowden who in her opening address thanked Mrs Wingfield Digby for coming to hand out the prizes and Louise and Mike Burks for their commitment and support of the project. Continuing her praises of the voluntary efforts and dedication of members of the ‘in bloom’ team in keeping the town looking so good, the Mayor then thanked Paul Newman, Adrian Pitman, Colin Pitman, Alex Bartlett, Andy Chamberlain and Simon Hodges of the Town Council for all their hard work throughout the year. Appreciation was also shown to the Growing for a Gold Gardening judges and to Louise Burks of Castle Gardens for her all her hard work and to Caroline Rowland, the organiser. The Mayor ended her speech with an appeal for sponsorship for next years Sherborne in Bloom.

Winners:

1. Best Overall Use of Allotments -

Judges: Anne Hall, Tim Stiles and Alex Bartlett with Gillian Langham from Sherborne Town Council.

Certificates awarded to all of the following presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Westbridge Park HIGHLY COMMENDED – Mr G Barber – Plot 6a

Lenthay Road HIGHLY COMMENDED – Mrs K Hibbert – Plot 9

Harbour Way HIGHLY COMMENDED –Mrs Pearce – Plot 28a1/ 28a2

Bristol Road HIGHLY COMMENDED – Mrs K Yeo – Plot 5a

McCreery Road HIGHLY COMMENDED – Mr Debell Plot 51/53

WINNERS

Westbridge Park WINNER – Mrs C Hunt – Plot 25b

Lenthay Road WINNER – Winner – Mr G Rowe – Plot 8

Harbour Way WINNER – Dr J Longland – Plot 27

Bristol Road WINNER – Mrs J Pedder – Plot 12b

McCreery Road WINNER – Mr B Hoskins – Plot 41/ 43

Best Overall Use of Allotments – OVERALL CUP WINNER

Winner of The Town Council Shield presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

Allotment Holder – Mrs Pedder

2. Businesses and Commercial Awards

2 (a) Best Pub/Restaurant Floral Display

Judges: Louise Burks, Cordelia McFarlane and Sally Westlotorn

Winner of the Sherborne Chamber of Trade and Commerce Cup presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

HIGHLY COMMENDED – Tamburino Gold – Domenico Taravella

HIGHLY COMMENDED – Half Moon Hotel – Danny Sergeant

• HIGHLY COMMENDED – Cross Keys – Mark Allsup

• HIGHLY COMMENDED – George Hotel – Jacqui & Brian Thomas

• HIGHLY COMMENDED – The Green – Michael Rust

• 2nd – The Eastbury Hotel – Paul and Nicky King

? WINNER – THE WHITE HART – Frank Chauvin

2 (b) Certificates of Recognition (NEW)

• For Outstanding Window Display – Occasions – Myra Sobezyk

• For Striking Balcony Floral Display – Orvis – Louise Podvoiskis

2 (c) Best Town Frontage

Judges Louise Burks, Cordelia MacFarlane and Sally Westlotorn

Winner of the Battens Shield presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

JOINT WINNERS – THE POLICE STATION – Mandy James & Team and ST JOHNS’ HOUSE (Almshouse) – Karen Andrews

2 (d) Best Shop Front

Judges Louise Burks, Cordelia MacFarlane and Sally Westlotorn

Winner of Hunts Accountants Salver

WINNER – SWAN YARD – Caffe Baglioni – Susan Collins, Swan Inn (The Arch) – Gemma Watt and The Margaret Balfour Beauty Centre – Margaret Balfour

3. Quarr Lane Park

Most Imaginative Garden Design in Quarr Lane Park

Judges: Paul Newman Brian King and Janet Vincent

Winner of the Castle Estates Cup presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

HIGHLY COMMENDED – Alma Leyshon – 85Quarr Lane Park , HIGHLY COMMENDED – Mr and Mrs Dare – 57 Quarr Lane Park, 3rdPlace: Patricia Bathurst – 64 Quarr Lane Park ,2nd Place: Mr & Mrs Cox – 8 Quarr Lane Park Winner – Mr and Mrs Bartlett 5 Quarr Lane Park

4.Ecology Awards

(4a) Wickedest Wildlife Garden

Judges: Steve Fry & Mary Brodie

Winner of the Rusty Rake Cup presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

• WINNER -Mrs Miller – 26 Cheap Street 1

•

• 4 ( c ) Greener Gardeners and Gardens

Judges: Steve Fry and Mary Brodie

Winner of the Mayors Cup presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

• WINNER – Mrs Susan Greene – Little Orchard, Priestlands

5 Captivating Containers and Harmonious Hanging Baskets

Judges: Louise Burks, Jane Smith and Brian King.

Winner of the Charterhouse Cup presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

• WINNER – Geoff Congrave – 16 Admirals Road 1

6 Residential

(6a) Most Colourful Front Garden -

Judges: Louise Burks, Jane Smith and Brian King

Winner of the Connell’s Shield presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

• 2nd Place – Mr & Mrs Green House – Miskin Cottage

• WINNER – Frank and Helma Poole of 6 St Catherines Crescent,

(6b) My Secret Garden – (Back Gardens)

Judges – Two Teams—Louise Burks, Tim Stiles, Katherine Vickery Mandy James, Paul Ferdinand and Malcolm Mills,

Dorset Lettings Cup

? 2nd – Louise Schrieber – Clarence Villas

? WINNER – Robert Sharland – Croft Cottage Hound Street

(7) Special Awards

(i) Best Workplace Garden

Certificate presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

• WINNER: Paul Arthur and ‘Mid West Office Supplies’

(ii) Biggest Surprise Found in Garden

Certificate presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

• WINNER – Eastbury Hotel for Bee Hives

(iii) Supporter of Sherborne in Bloom Award

Certificate presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

• WINNER – Roland Smith – 65 St Pauls Green

(iV) Sherborne in Bloom People’s Award

Certificate presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

• WINNER – Geoff Congrave – 16 Admirals Close

(V) Volunteer of the Year

Certificate presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

• WINNER: Julie Walton for outstanding effort in looking after Kitt Hill 1

(Vi) Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Litter Pickers

Certificates presented by Deputy Mayor Cllr Peter Rhodes

Helen Langridge for Barton Gardens, Mr Vosper for Fairfield Heights, Mr Hunt for St Aldhelms Road, Matthew and Anne Hall for Hunts Mead and Captain and Mrs Bird for Marston Road

(Vii) Most ‘Secret’ Secret Garden

Certificate presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

• WINNER – Paul and Nikki King – Hideaway House

(Viii) Best Newcomer Award

Certificate presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

• WINNER: Graham Mills – 5 Newland

(iX) The Sally Westlotorn Trophy for the Sherborne Area Partnership

Sponsor – Sherborne Area Partnership presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

• WINNER of the Sherborne in Bloom Growing from Seed Award Mrs Hewlett 44 Vernalls Road

(8) Photography

Certificate presented by Mrs Wingfield Digby

• WINNER: Mr Patrick Green

(8) ART

Winner: GEORGINA BELBIN

9. Young People

9(a) Special Awards

Best School Garden

Certificate Awarded to

• Gryphon School for outstanding contribution in Sherborne in Bloom

• WINNER – Sherborne Girls – for an Excellent Contemplation Garden

10 – Awards for some of the Outstanding PEOPLE in Sherborne in Bloom!

10(a) Photographers

Certificates Awarded to

Daniel Edmed and Ali Hunt for producing fantastic photography of front and back gardens during

Judging week. Well done and thank you.

10b. Best of the Best

Porter Dodson Solicitors Cup

WINNER of Most Points Awarded in Sherborne in Bloom Barry & Shelia Hoskins 28 St Aldhelms Road

10c – Castle Gardens – Gryphon School Enterprise Day

Certificates awarded to everyone for excellent effort in supporting pupils in their community garden projects around the town.

• Alison Extance, Laura Yeoman, Matt Bray, Dan Muckley, Ian Roberts, Steve Fry, Tommy Cuff, Tom Mussell,

• Max O’Loughlin and Sam Baker

10d Growing for a Gold Judges

Certificates awarded to our judges and thank you for volunteering.:

Brian King, Malcolm Mills, Jane Smith, Cordelia MacFarlane, Tim Stiles, Katherine Vickery, Janet Vincent,Mary Brodie, Mandy James, Paul Ferdinand, Sally Westlotorn, Paul Newman, Alex Bartlett , Steve Fry & Anne Hall

10e– Outstanding Contribution to Sherborne in Bloom

Certificates Awarded to Paul Newman and the Town Council Team of Grounds men for keeping our town looking so good all year round:

Alex Bartlett, Andy Chamberlaine, Simon Hodges, Paul Newman, Adrian Pitman, Colin Pitman and Gillian Langham for helping out with the allotments

10f – Louise Burks

Sponsor – Sherborne Area Partnership

Certificate and three cheers for the person we absolutely could not do without! LOUISE BURKS

Clearly the Growing for a Gold gardening competition is proving as popular as ever with judges being invited to look out more than 80 gardens, 180 allotments and 120 businesses. The annual Photographic Exhibition runs for a week in the Butterfly House at Castle Gardens giving everyone an opportunity to view some of the gardens and projects. This year it features pictures from photographers Daniel Edmed, Anne Hall, Ali Hunt, Brian King and Victor Martin (from Sherborne’s twin town of Granville)

Sherborne in Bloom is a most successful community development project being truly socially inclusive bringing together people from all walks of life – all united by a love of gardening and sense of civic pride in the town. Its popularity is never more apparent than at the annual gathering of gardeners, supporters, councillors, sponsors and competitors.  Competition aside, there has been no stopping work on the many projects, lodged under the Sherborne in Bloom banner. Many of the activities would happen any way but have the added bonus of fulfilling the RHS competition judging criteria. In the past the town has won Best Market Town in Britain Award (Environment and Culture category) for its superb photographic exhibition at the station, the only one on the Exeter to London line and celebrated as the only exhibition able to be viewed from a moving railway carriage! The permanent display of photography was taken by boys from Sherborne School and members of the Sherborne Bradford Abbas Camera Club.

Another successful project is the community gardening scheme which with over 50 adopt-a-plots ensures many parts of the town look beautiful – there is still room for more plots and more locations to get involved. Maybe you know and can nominate a derelict piece of land crying out for a make-over? Some of the schemes are celebrating their fifth year of adoption, with results producing some magnificent gardens. Each year the project aims to encourage volunteer gardeners to identify, plant and maintain neglected areas, usually for a season, preferably on an annual basis. Plants can be donated, grown and even swapped, or money to buy them raised from a sponsor, fund-raising or a grant. In the past the Simon Digby Memorial Trust has been a great source of support for the project. Business sponsorship would also greatly enhance the various developments, new pledges of support are very welcome. Plot sponsorship starts from £100 for a season. Please get in touch if you are interested. The groups of more than 200 volunteer gardeners have been working hard throughout the spring and summer on their various community gardens, many with the help of Louise Burks and the Castle Gardens Team. Volunteers from Sherborne Outreach Group and Doreen Rose, whose Wild Flower and Rescue plot in Acreman Street car park looks fantastic, are as keen as ever to ensure their plots are looking good. While the Gryphon School Enterprise day in June provides volunteers for the summer season planting up of nine more plots around the town. The Abbey Close, gardens in Digby Road, Pageant Gardens, Bristol Road and the Station are a manifestation of blooming abundance, full of colourful, fragrant flowers and shrubs. The Police Station looks fantastic. The wonderful displays have attracted visitors from all over the south west. This year, in recognition of the time and effort given by volunteers to this project, a new award was created; ‘Volunteer of the Year’, won by Julie Walton who looks after Kitt Hill.

Work on projects for next year continues with an exciting new plan for the Castleton Sub Station headed by Gillian Gunner and Bill Heath under the direction of the country’s leading butterfly expert, Clive Farrell. There are hopes for some exciting art projects inlcuding: Circle of Solidarity – a community flag making project – to fly in the Pageant Gardens; Green Dream Garden – creating a new recycled garden; Food Stories – a series of photo story boards featuring local food producers taken by photographer Norman Crabb; Carparkart – a community mural – for one of the car parks. One of the great things about Sherborne in Bloom is that anyone can get involved, everyone can have some fun working together, maybe making some new friends and most definitely, positively making a difference to the appearance of the town. Come and join us. Call the Sherborne in Bloom office 01935 816961 or email: c.rowland@sherborne-tc.gov.uk

Doreen Rose began guerilla gardening this plot four years ago, and every year we see new surprises springing up along this colourful border. Here are the beautiful daisies enjoying a bright, summer day:

Thanks, Doreen – your contribution is really inspiring and you genuinely have made a difference to the town!

The event was opened by Mayor Jane Smith:

Everyone was invited to bring a picnic – even the Royal family was there:

The Town Band played:

There was a champagne bar…

… and a barbecue…

…and, of course, a children’s Fancy Dress:

The weather stayed fine and everyone had a fun afternoon. Thanks to everyone who helped make the afternoon such a success!

[click on any image to see it full size]

Newland Flats

Cheap Street tub

Cheap Street hanging basket

Cheap Street tub

Cheap Street view

Pageant Gardens daffodils

Long Street planter

And with the weather turning warmer, we can look forward to much more colour to come!

Photos by Linda Shuaib LRPS.

Click on a picture to see it full size.

Here they are in the Snowdrop Walk in the Pageant Gardens:

… and in clumps in the borders:

… and in swathes alongside the lake at the Castle:

The little white blossoms remind us (at last!) that spring cannot be far away.

(Click on a picture to see it full size.)

(Click on picture to see it full size)

The town was briefly brought to a halt – except for the kids and their snowballs!

The countryside took on a ‘wonderland’ look as trees froze and snow reflected the light:

And familiar plants and flowers became spectacular and sights in their own right:

Winter has its compensations as it gives us another view on our world.

But soon the snowdrops will be poking through, and spring will be on the way…