The Sleaford in Bloom committee
was formed in 1994 and since then its members have worked tirelessly
to help improve the appearance of the town by increasing environmental
awareness, encouraging businesses to take on floral displays and
working with local and national groups to develop landscaping
and conservation schemes. The group is affiliated to Britain in
Bloom and British Trust for Nature Conservation. Many of the hanging
baskets and plant containers in the town have been provided by
Sleaford in Bloom and many businesses are now contributing to
the display with their own efforts.
More recently Sleaford in Bloom
Ltd was formed, as a Company Limited by Guarantee (company number
04185583) and registered as Charity no 1093694 with The Charity
Commission.
Sleaford has taken part in the East
Midlands in Bloom competition for many years. The entry is coordinated
by Sleaford in Bloom but the results reflect the work of many
individuals, businesses and organisations in the town.
Ted Barton's Garden.
Ted was a founding director
of Sleaford in Bloom Ltd and active volunteer with the group
until ill health slowed him down.
Sadly, Ted died in October
2006
In 1999 Sleaford in Bloom was awarded
an Awards for All grant for an environmental project in Sleaford
Cemetery. Students from the Sleaford Sixth Form catalogued the
plants and researched the history of the cemetery. An interpretative
panel was installed in the Cemetery and a very informative leaflet
is available from Sleaford Town Council. The cemetery has gone
on to win two judges' awards in the East Midlands in Bloom Annual
Awards and in 2007 was awarded the RHS Bloomin' Wild Award
The work of Sleaford in Bloom is
supported by Sleaford Town Council, Sleaford Civic Trust and many
other organisations.
Major fundraising ventures are the
regular Car Boot Sales, the Annual Draw and Sleaford Open Gardens.
Sleaford in Bloom hosted the East
Midlands in Bloom Seminar in February 2004
Sleaford Open Gardens was a new
venture started in 2004 and has been a successful fundraiser ever
since.
In 2005 Sleaford in Bloom
volunteer, Pauline Dobson, instigated the Fantasic Flowers project
whereby 11 local primary schools made collages representing flowers
and plants, with the help of Pauline, local artist Tracey Scott,
supported by The Hub, Lincolnshire Cooperative Ltd and Sleaford
Market Towns Week. Images of the finished Collages were turned
into notelets and are sold through the schools, the Hub and Sleaford
Tourist Information Centre
Pauline's 2006 project was
Wonderful Wellies - again working with local primary schools,
she had children planting flowers, herbs and vegetables in old
wellies (including some donated by local food processing factories);
the decorated wellies became sections of wellipedes, spiders,
ladybirds and butterflies and even the Sleaford Gardeners' Society
followed their lead.
For several years Sleaford
in Bloom has recognised the contribution made by individual gardeners,
businesses and groups to the improvement of the town environment.
In 2006 this took place at a special evening at the Solo Club.
The awards were presented by Pam Kyte, Chairman of Sleaford in
Bloom
Peter Gosling - Best Front
Garden 2006
Peter Ruffey, Chairman of
Friends of Mareham Pastures - Best Volunteer Group
Nigel and Kath Sheppard of
The Jolly Scotchman Best Commercial Premises
Maureen Bramley, Ada Trethewey,
Pam Kyte and Pauline Dobson
Sleaford in Bloom Awards 2007
Maureen Bramley presents
the Best Commercial Premises Award to New Image Gym, Church Lane
Pauline Dobson, Joyce Guilder-Panton,
Maureen Bramley, Cllr Jack Collings (Mayor of Sleaford), Cllr
Ron Ball, Pam Kyte, Derek (speaker) and Ada Trethewey
(picture to follow)
(picture to follow)
Best Front Garden
Corner of East Banks and New St
Best Pub/Restaurant
Carre Arms, Mareham Lane
Volunteers and helpers are always
welcome - if you would like to help (green fingers not essential
!) please call 01529 306427, 303164 or 305872 or email debbie_scott@btopenworld.com
Sleaford in Bloom 
