Welcome to Witney’s In Bloom page where you can take a closer look at our participation in the In Bloom initiative for 2024.
Following last year’s submission, we focused again on entering the Witney Lake and Country Park.
We submitted a portfolio showing all of the work that has taken place in the last year and a plan of action for future implementation. It also explores the schedule of maintenance and development work.
It involved summarising the work by the Biodiversity and Green Spaces Officer, our Green Spaces Operative, our Maintenance Team, and the hardworking volunteers we are so lucky to have.
Our Community Gardeners have been busy creating wonderful displays in the Community beds which we would encourage you to visit and enjoy. Their gardens are:
- Burwell Community Gardeners – Off Burwell Drive
- Edible Gardens – Langdale Court
- Witney Horticultural Society – Langdale Court/Langdale Hall
Schools in Bloom 2024
The Town Council has once again provided wheelbarrows to Witney Primary Schools and one guest wheelbarrow to a guest organisation – Synolos.
The theme this year was ‘budding friendships’ and we asked the schools to create a barrow that could be passed on to a care home, retirement village or similar.
As always, our schools were absolutely on point with fulfilling the brief. The barrows included colourful pollinator friendly planting, something that always scores well with the judges. Many of them included insect habitats home made from natural materials.
The judging, carried out at the Witney Carnival, was extremely busy this year with 670 people casting a vote!
The Witney Rotary Club who generously sponsor the competition with a cash prize and a trophy selected Springfield Primary School as their winner.
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School clinched the People’s Choice award which was chosen by visitors to the stall voting for their favourite barrows.
Queen Emma’s Primary School’s colourful, plastic free barrow caught the Mayor’s eye and was chosen as his favourite.
Once again, Witney Town Council has been overwhelmed by the effort, creativity and enthusiasm of all the entrants. The barrows are all absolutely beautiful.
The barrows will be delivered to their designated care homes soon. We know that they will be lovingly tended and appreciated in their new homes.
The Mayor and Rotary club judge will be visiting the winning schools to present their respective awards and the People’s Choice award. Each participating school will also receive a token of appreciation.
Congratulations to all entrants for another fantastic year of outstanding barrow designs. Thank you for your participation and dedication.
The barrows are now displayed at Witney care homes over the summer for enrichment activities with the residents.
Here are some handy resources for In Bloom groups, if you are thinking of getting involved.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/britain-in-bloom/resources/
