Tower and Town, September 2016

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It's Your Neighbourhood

This year twelve local and very different groups entered the ‘It's Your Neighbourhood’ campaign organised by the Royal Horticultural Society. This is a non-competitive scheme, linked to Marlborough in Bloom, where assessments are made on five different levels based on Community Participation, Environmental Responsibility and Gardening Achievement.

On Thursday 28 July Andy Cole, a National Britain in Bloom judge, toured the town to assess each group's project and spend time talking to volunteers about their work to improve the areas they live in.

The Marlborough groups that entered into the Scheme are: Stonebridge Wild River Reserve and Stonebridge Meadow, Stonebridge Allotments, Coopers Meadow, Plume of Feathers Garden, The Waterfront Garden, St. Peter's & St. Paul's Church Garden, Manton Village, Marlborough Community Orchard, The Merchant's House Garden, Old Hughenden Yard, River Park and Hilliers Yard.

Andy Cole’s visit to the garden of St Peter & St Paul's Church was very successful. The sun was shining and the garden looked beautiful. We were met by Beryl Stunt, who has recently agreed to head up the devoted band of volunteers who have worked tremendously hard pruning the overgrown trees and shrubs and planting up the colourful beds and borders surrounding this historic church. Together with Jeremy York and Jill & Brian Wallis, Judge Andy Cole assessed the garden and heard about their achievements over the past year and future plans to create a wildflower mini-meadow at the eastern end of the site.

The results will be announced on 6th October, together with Andy Cole's report on his visit.

Anne Crawley