Nothing could quite have prepared me for a visit to Cricklade Bloomers HQ on Wednesday morning. I went along with Martin Hambidge, open spaces advisor for South Swindon Parish Council. If you visit their website, you get an idea of their activities. The core message is 'Working for a Better Cricklade', and the enterprise is so successful, their work is in evidence everywhere.
We met Anita Barratt, chair and founder member of Cricklade Bloomers, at their base, a walled garden where all the activities take place, and she generously talked to us and showed us some of the workings of the organisation. On Wednesday there was a production line of volunteers putting fritillary bulbs into pots to sell when the Snakeshead fritillaries are in flower in North Meadow.
This is one half of their yard with 2 sheds either side of a space and their vehicle
We had a peak inside the right hand shed, as Anita mentioned, all tools must be cleaned after use, and hung up. Made me think about the state of my garage!
Melcourt is one of the growing mediums they use, here it is in a large bale
They also use Sylva Grow with added John Innes, I think maybe they mix the two together.
This is the vehicle used for transporting tools to sites in Cricklade where they are working
An innovative use for old waste collection bins
And this is what was happening while we were there, Snakehead fritillary bulbs were planted into pots and stored by the shed. Quite a production line!
These are some of the plants which have been propagated and will be used in planters, hanging baskets or sold outside the yard.
This is a view inside the third shed where the most important work of providing drinks and cake goes on. It was a lovely day and volunteers went to sit outside to chat while other people came by to collect raffle prizes.
After the visit, we went looking round Cricklade and it's very clear that they are 'Working for a Better Cricklade' with window boxes
planters on walls
under signs
and just look at this planter in the high street which doubles up as a bike rack
Fabulous hanging baskets, watered by the
Cricklade town council with whom the Bloomers work closely.
Below a small street planter
and further down, hanging baskets on the school building
I'd like to thank the Bloomers and particularly Anita for a wonderful insight into their work, what an inspiration, I'm hoping the Cambria Bridge and
OTRA gardeners can visit before long.
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