Yate and Dodington in Bloom

2012 Plans

Following our success in 2011, the team are now planning this year's work.

The corner opposite Lidl is being cleared and renamed Jubilee Gardens. When cleared, it will be replanted by Spring.

Look out for bulbs appearing at Ridgewood, St Mary's Churchyard, Yate Heritage Centre and Dodington Parish Hall.

Yate Station will be the next area for regeneration.

If you would like more information or would like to get involved in any of our activities, please contact Team Member Sylvia Eastwood for further details. Email: or call 01454 312390.

2011 Results

On Thursday 15th September the award winning TV broadcaster, author and horticulturalist Toby Buckland presented the awards on behalf of RHS South West in Bloom.

As first time entrants the Yate and West Dodington in Bloom team expected an encouraging mention.

We were, however, delighted to receive three Neighbourhood Awards in the morning for Abbotswood Primary School, Jacobs Well Community Gardens and Kingsgate Park.

Judith Cameron, secretary of the ‘Friends of Kingsgate Park, Yate’ was thrilled to accept the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood Award’ from Tony Buckland.

Judith said “We entered the competition as part of Yate and West Dodington in Bloom. The 'Level 3 - Developing' Award was a wonderful achievement for a first effort and we hope to improve towards Level 4 or even a 5 next year. Everyone was very excited.

Click here to read more about the Kingsgate Park award.

In the afternoon other prestigious awards and cups were presented.

The team were thrilled to receive a Silver Award in the St Bridget Cup category.

The most exciting moment was when Abbotswood School was given a discretionary composting award and won the Viridor Cup.

The In Bloom team have worked so hard this year to raise standards in the Yate and West Dodington area and thanks must be given to all the dedicated people involved in the specific projects in the community and all involved in the routes which were entered.

Garden Competition 2011

A garden competition has been held as part of the Yate and West Dodington in Bloom entry for the RHS South West in Bloom.

Photos of all the entrants' gardens were displayed in Yate library and on MyYate.co.uk and the standard was very high.

Over 140 votes were cast by the community, with Mrs J Keenan's garden receiving the greatest number of votes.

The photographs show the winning garden and Mrs Keenan receiving her trophy and garden voucher from Mrs Christine Howard on behalf of the In Bloom team.

The winners of Yate and Dodington In Bloom's 2011 Garden Competition are:

1st - Mrs J Keenan, 70 Somerset Avenue, Yate, who wins a sunflower trophy, certificate and £35 voucher.

2nd - Mrs R Ernsing, 45 Woodmancote, Yate, who wins a certificate and £25 voucher.

3rd - Mrs S Meadon, 151 Blaisdon, Yate, who wins a certificate and £15 voucher.

Details will be announced as soon as possible for the 2012 competition.

Improvements to Yate Railway Station

Yate and West Dodington in Bloom has been working hard clearing the area to the rear of the Gloucester bound platform and building flower beds, to improve the welcome visitors receive to Yate. The resulting planting scheme you can see in the picture was designed by the community.

The work so far has been paid for by a South Gloucestershire Council Grant of £1000, in partnership with the Friends of Yate Station and the Severnside Community Rail Partnership.

Another planter is to be delivered soon, which will be located by the ticket booth. A lot of work still needs to be done around the station, particularly around the car park, on the approach road and along the verge on the Gloucester bound platform.

The Community Pay-Back Team could be asked to undertake the work (a team of 8 would need to be employed for a full day).

The Partnership would be very interested to hear from volunteers who would be willing to maintain the flower beds.

Photos of Yate Station courtesy of Lin Kendall and Abdul Choudhury

Find out more about Yate and Dodington in Bloom

Britain in Bloom is not just about formal spaces, but about improving our community, gardens and open spaces.

If you would like Yate and Dodington to be a part of Britain in Bloom, or just enjoy volunteering, gardening or being part of something worthwhile to our community, please come along to a meeting and join in.

Click here to download the Spring 2011 newsletter [PDF, 593kB]

Click here to download the Yate and Dodington in Bloom Volunteer form [PDF, 41kB]

Click here to download the minutes of the June 2011 meeting [PDF, 50kB]

The project is being supported by:

• Yate Town Council
• Dodington Parish Council
• South Gloucestershire Council
• Sodbury and Yate Business Association
• Dave Bruten, photographer and photographic/AV display organiser
• Lin Kendall, photographer

The Judging Route for ‘Britain in Bloom’ 2011

Photographs of the judges' tour kindly supplied by Dave Bruten©.

Judging Day involves escorting the judges on a preplanned route around Yate, showcasing the best that our area has to offer in terms of horticulture, environment and community.

Of course there are many other areas in the locality worthy of a visit, however, we are governed by a strict time schedule.

The route will change every year, so in time, we will be able to show the judges everything that our area has to offer.

• 2pm Assemble at Armadillo Cafe for tea/coffee – AV presentation to be shown during refreshments. Yate Town Mayor to be asked to welcome the judges and give a short introduction.

  

• 2.15pm Leave Armadillo Cafe
• 2.30pm Arrive Abbotswood School to see the allotment and meet the children.
• 3pm Visit Kingsgate Park and walk around to see the lakes and children's play area.
• 3.30pm Part at the Fire Station and admire planting there before visiting Yate Shopping Centre's North Parade to view the hanging baskets. Walk to the Heritage Centre, pointing out the Lych Gate.
• 3.45pm Visit the Lodge Gatehouse to see the gardens. Cross over to the Ridgewood Centre, show them the front of the building pointing out Jacobs Wells Group, view the baskets at the back, then to the Ridgewood Café for tea and the display session, to be joined by members of the group to talk to the judges.

Yate and Dodington In Bloom Logo

We received a fantastic response to the competition to design a logo for the ‘Yate & Dodington in Bloom’ group. As expected, the standard was extremely high.

After much deliberation, the group chose an entry by local resident Ben Holbrook. We are sure you will agree that the logo, featured above, is simple yet effective and will be a great tool in raising people’s awareness in the ‘Yate and Dodington in Bloom’ group.

Schools, Youth and Community Groups in Yate and Dodington: We need your help!

Photo by Lin Kendall

As well as the judging route, part of the judging criteria for ‘Britain in Bloom’ is to produce a portfolio which includes photographs, drawings and written information on a wide range of local community projects and achievements as well as information on local birds, wildlife and plants.

We know that many local nurseries, schools and youth groups have created wonderful wormeries, nest boxes and other wildlife habitats and we would love to receive any photographs, paintings or stories documenting your achievements to include in the portfolio.

The Rotary Purple Crocus Scheme

Yate Rotary Club offered 3000 purple Ruby Giant crocus bulbs for planting in a prominent area of Yate.

The Club have been involved in a Rotary scheme to eradicate Polio since 1979 and the colour purple is significant because when a child is vaccinated, they have a purple stamp put on their little finger.

The group thanked The Rotarians for their generous offer and the crocus bulbs were planted around the Morrison’s roundabout.

St. Nicholas’ Family Centre Community Garden

After many years hard work by Jenifer Shiles, MP Steve Webb opened a community garden at St. Nicholas’ Family Centre in 2009.

The garden is for the whole centre and every organisation as well as the general public, and is at St. Nicholas Family Centre, Chargrove, Abbotswood, Yate BS37 4LG.

Volunteers are very welcome to help with maintenance. Contact Jenifer Shiles at if you would like to help.

Get involved...

If you would like to find out more about Yate in Bloom, please contact Tony Moore, Estates Officer at Yate Town Council:

Poole Court
Poole Court Drive
Yate
BS37 6AG

Tel: 01454 866511
email: