Heacham & District News

Posted by Susan Richardson,Chairman of Heacham In Bloom
heachaminbloom@btinternet.com

We all had a lovely break over the Xmas period, but with 6 months to the judging day, its back to business as usual.

Heacham In Bloom welcomes a new sponsor Darren Bailey, local electrician, who will sponsor the display in the raised bed at the Lavender Junction.   The volunteers are gradually ticking off their list of hard landscaping tasks, much of the hard graft being done by Rob Topliss, Steve Percy and Rodney Clements.

It was also agreed that the colour scheme this year will take inspiration from the Olympic flame, so we will be using bright oranges, yellows and reds; a scheme that we have not used before.

A small working party has been set up to look at what might be done to “In Bloom” the High Street, following several requests from shop owners who want to support the project. We have also created a Heacham In Bloom facebook page; to keep you regularly updated with photos of our work, please free to “Like” us. Heacham In Bloom were given sight of the Parish Council’s plans for the creation of  a Jubilee Garden in the Recreation Ground, an application for lottery funding is being made as we speak so our fingers are crossed that the Council is successful.   Preparations are being made to launch our Best Blooming Caravan Competition in April, with our sponsors the Fox and Hounds Public House, so watch this space for more news.

Our next meeting is 20 February at 7.00pm – Parish Council Office.

Susan Richardson

Posted by Susan Richardson, Chairman of Heacham In Bloom
Email: heachaminbloom@btinternet.com

Heacham in Bloom’s first AGM, held in November saw myself and Robbie Topliss  reappointed as Chairman and Treasurer respectively  and Geraldine Topliss taking over from Philippa Sewell, as Secretary. My report given at the meeting is as follows:

The expression from small acorns comes to mind……. In early 2009,  I was persuaded by the Parish Clerk to  Chair the first Heacham In Bloom Committee meeting.  Two and half years on and  Heacham In Bloom has  grown  much stronger and it  is a real credit to the dedicated committee members and our supporters that  we achieved an amazing Silver Gilt this year, with  commendations in 3 special award categories.

We might not yet be a mighty oak, but we have shown that we can hold our own against other  In Bloom groups who have been operating for many years.  I would like to extend a big thank you to all those who have helped us over the past few years, many in the background some with money, some with plants, some with machinery,  some with cakes …the list goes on. However,  whenever support or whatever support is given, it is a real boost to us.

We have already been working hard on our 2012 entry and as always it is about consolidation; bringing on and caring for those projects started in 2009 and  moving forward with new projects and expanding the Heacham In Bloom family.  We plan  to  promote our Pride of Place campaign and sign up more residents or groups to make their place bloom.   We  also met some lovely holiday makers whilst judging our Best Blooming Caravan Competition and we make no secret of the fact that with 2,000 caravans in Heacham, we are looking to encourage some fierce competition between parks and caravans.

Heacham In Bloom bring a tropical feel to South Beach.

I take great pride in the fact that, the Judges enjoy coming to Heacham, they enjoy our sometimes novel approach to the In Bloom competition  and that we continue to surprise them with how much we achieve with so little resources compared to other groups, part of our secret is our Heacham first approach, looking at what is right for Heacham not necessarily what will win us points in the competition.

I also announced that since our last meeting we have been given a cheque for £100 from the Heacham Gardeners’ Association as well as their notice board at the Dairy.  Many of you may have noticed that we have been hard at work over the past month at South Beach, putting the funding from Talk Talk to good use with help from Nick Cawthorne and his mini digger.

Please come and support our Christmas Coffee Morning on (10am to 12 noon) Saturday 10 December in St Mary’s Church Hall, Heacham High Street.  We would love to see you.

Our next meeting is on  19 December at 7.00pm at the Parish Council Office for anyone that would like to join our cause.