News Update June
Sunflower Challenge, Hanging Baskets
The RHS suggested a sunflower challenge (see our dedicated page here) to encourage young people to plant sunflowers in their gardens to brighten up communities. NBIB applied for 10 packets of sunflower seeds, which were distributed along with 200 sunflower seedlings on Saturday 30th May at our annual tulip bulb ‘giveaway’. Our three junior NBIB members planted some seeds in the Abbey greenhouse during their February half term and members of NB Gardening Club and Sustaining NB also helped. Posters in Sweet news shop window and the volunteer notice board in Quality Street give all the details. The QR code will take you straight to the competition page on our website.
The Pallet Garden in the Abbey Churchyard has been planted with yellow and white flowers in a sunflower pattern and the girls are looking after it by watering and dead heading. The competition will be judged in August with prizes for the tallest plant, the biggest flower and the best picture and craftwork.
Many activities have had to change for NBIB this year. Several of our volunteers have been shielding and the few who have been gardening have had to work alone. The dry months of April and May have meant that extra watering has been vital and we felt that we would not be able to manage the extra demands of watering 100 hanging baskets in the High Street. Sadly therefore there will be a greatly reduced number of baskets this summer with displays at Bank Street, Quality Street and one or two special orders for people who will can water their own baskets. We sincerely hope that all the shops and businesses in the High Street will survive the pandemic and be able to open again. Some of them are already being painted and we look forward to reinstating the baskets again next year, when the High Street will back to its normal vibrant self.
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North Berwick in Bloom in the Media
North Berwick in Bloom regularly features in the local press, and in the community newsletter.
Listed here are our up-coming activities. These are open to all and everyone is welcome.
Our volunteers are visible around town in North Berwick in Bloom tabards, and we operate stalls at various community events.
Stop Press
NBIB were delighted to be chosen as one of the six Scottish finalists for Britain in Bloom 2020. Having won the coveted Rosebowl for best Scottish entrant in Keep Scotland Beautiful 2019. Sadly, due to the current crisis, this event has had to be postponed. With luck they will be working hard to impress the UK judges in August 2021. Despite this set back, the 20+ hands on volunteers will continue to spend Monday morning tidying, weeding and planting to make North Berwick look beautiful. NB was last in the UK competition in 2017 when they won the latest in a series of gold medals.
NBIB’s success is based on growing an unusually wide range of plants with an emphasis on sustainable planting and biodiversity. Additional projects for 2020 include helping Sustainable North Berwick to plant 450 trees, working with residents to create a community garden in Lime Grove and working with the Sea Bird Centre to create another coastal wildflower garden near the harbour. This will be in addition to the usual seasonal activities of planting over 90 hanging baskets and 100 planters.
NBIB receives great support from many community groups and works closely with East Lothian Council’s amenity service team; we know that we can count on them all to help us to put on a good show this year.
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