• Poole Flying Boats Celebration in Poole Park
• Hamworthy in Bloom
• Canford Heath in Bloom
• Canford Cliffs in Bloom
• Events

New Judge for Poole in Bloom

An exciting start to 2008 with the return to Poole of Ben Turner.  Ben, now 25 yrs old, won the Young Poole in Bloom competition when he was just fourteen, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, a former parks director for the town, and we're pleased to welcome him to the judging panel for this year's Front Garden of the Year competition.  Ben returns from a position with the Royal Horticultural Society’s prestigious Wisley Gardens in Surrey.  In 2006 he became Young Horticulturalist of The Year not long after winning a 2005 scholarship from the British Institute of Landscape Industries to study indigenous plants in South Africa.  He graduated from the University of Essex with a BSc (Hons) in Horticulture.

Hamworthy in Bloom 2008

Local residents and Councillors have come together in Hamworthy to launch a local 'in Bloom' initiative.  Paula Knight joined the Poole in Bloom committee earlier in the year and together with Mrs Christine Eaton (of Friends of Hamworthy Park and the Dog Walkers Action Group) has been clearing and replanting several 'abandoned' planters and beds along Blandford Road. 

Paula has also organised for two large wooden planters to be installed in the Blandford Road street scene, while Poole's Leisure Services and local business funded two new permanent brick-built planters outside the walls of Old Rope Walk.  They were planted up in July by Paula Knight, ably assisted by her grandchildren Rebecca and Kieran (photo right).

Hamworthy in Bloom is supported by:

Canford Heath in Bloom 2008

Poole in Bloom member Cllr. Sandra Moore succeeded in transforming the 'Asda' roundabout in Canford Heath using grasses and heathers.   Planting was completed in June; here Sandra tells how it came about ...

Canford Cliffs in Bloom 2007 - read about a year in the life of Canford Cliffs Village committee member, Cecilia Grimston

Things to do, places to go...

Bulb Planting - Autumn/Winter 2008 Funding from the Council's Leisure Services purchases a good number of daffodil and crocus bulbs each year for planting by volunteers in communal areas across the Borough. Would the grass verges on your street benefit from some glorious spring colour?  Perhaps there's an area of garden outside your local school, church or library that needs brightening up?  Or a patch of wasteland that you'd like to improve? If you're willing to do the work, we can provide all you need to make a difference to your community spaces.  We supply the bulbs and can lend you bulb planting equipment to make the job easier; perhaps even some willing hands if you need them. Please contact Sarah.  Let her know by the end of August how many bulbs you think you can use, for where, and we'll add them to our shopping list.  Bulbs are supplied by Plowmans Garden Nursery & Plant Centre Ltd in Ferndown.

Upton Country Park Wildlife Family Fun Day At Upton Country Park, Upton, Poole BH17 7BJ 10:30 - 16:00  Displays, activities & entertainment for all ages. In 2008 the Family Fun Day was held on Wednesday, 6th August.  If you would like the chance to promote your organisation and its activities at next year's Fun Day, please email Justine Hawkes, Senior Ranger at Upton Country Park, by 31st May 2009.  Or telephone her on 01202 672625.

The Friends of Upton Country Park Annual Plant & Garden Fair At Upton Country Park, Upton, Poole BH17 7BJ Next plant fair is May 2009.