ILFRACOMBE IN BLOOM

1985 – 2011

Community Resources (Devon) CIC Winner of the Gordon Ford Trophy for the

‘Best Neighbourhood Award’ 2010

2

Ilfracombe is a town of some 10500 people and is situated on the north Devon coast, within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is the major resort town of north Devon, a popular all year round destination that combines a contemporary atmosphere with old world heritage and attracts a wide mix of visitors from families staying at the holiday parks and camp-sites to people wanting a quiet weekend break at a boutique B&B. There is much for visitors to do and see from walking, water sports or just wandering about the town and tasting the fantastic local food on offer. Ilfracombe in Bloom is in it’s 27th year and for most of those years we have participated in the regional ‘in Bloom’ competition. We organise container planting and distribution throughout the centre of town and are gradually taking over/creating pocket garden areas with sustainable planting. We co-ordinate our efforts with other groups and liase with businesses and organisations. Numerous new projects have been started through our committee’s enthusiasm to improve Ilfracombe for the benefit of all. Our aims are: - 1. To increase civic pride through local people taking on the planning and management of their

local environment. 2. To decorate the central area of the town to make it a pleasant place to live, work and visit. 3. To help promote tourism, business and a healthy vibrant town. 4. To increase the areas that have permanent planting. All sections of the community are welcomed as a network of individuals and organisations that are able to support our aims through either financial or practical help. We aim to ensure that all residents are able to play a full part in assisting our aims and encourage the widest possible participation in all activities regardless of disability, sex or race. President: Margaret Sutcliffe BA - Ilfracombe Civic Society,

Ilfracombe Probus, Greener Ilfracombe and North Coast U3A – Convenor of the Environment Group

Chairman: Ivan Frances - Ilfracombe Community Alliance, Ilfracombe Poverty Action

Group & is a Governor at the Junior School Vice-Chairman: Paul Carpenter - Ilfracombe High Street Traders

Association, Ilfracombe Floral Arts & Ilfracombe Compass Club

Secretary & Barbara Clarke – Ilfracombe & District Tourism Association, Ilfracombe Treasurer: Marketing Group, U3A and Ilfracombe Access Group Committee: Ann Doody - Ilfracombe Rotary Club President, U3A & Ilfracombe Probus Sharon Williams – Community Resources CIC In addition a team of local people come to help with planting, clearing etc.

Ilfracombe

3

Impact In the autumn we again planted the four boats with primulas, which in spite of the cold winter and snow were still in flower when removed in May ready for the summer planting. When lifted as many as possible were replanted in the various pocket gardens around the town. We also planted spring and summer flowering bulbs in Victoria Place. For the summer we have planted the four boats with red & pink begonias. The hanging baskets & towers in the High Street, mangers on the Seafront and the bandstand are a mixture of begonias, geraniums, bacopea and creeping jenny and the colour scheme is apricot, red and white. The two large towers at Mill Head & St Brannocks Road include bacopea, red geraniums & pink trailing petunias. The North Devon Joint Delivery Team have been instrumental in creating a ‘café culture’ area by widening pavements and resurfacing the road at the bottom of Fore Street and along Broad Street. They asked if we could plant and maintain permanent planters if they supplied them. For this year they have also paid for the compost and plants. In addition to those supplied we have been able to add a further three, thanks to any anonymous donation that we received, to complete the project. These have been planted up with geraniums and begonias in a various colours with dianthus and creeping jenny around the edge. We will look to include some permanent planting for the future.

Ready for Planting Planted In full Bloom This spring we teamed up with Devon County Council & North Devon Council to improve the gardens in Trinity Place, to make them more open and a feature in the town once again – much like they were many years ago. Working with North Devon Council the shrubs have been cut back and the ground cleared of ivy and weeds. The three birch trees that were a health & safety risk, as the roots were lifting the pavements, were removed by Devon County Council and the hard landscaping has been cleaned by the fire brigade as part of the April spring clean of the town. Ilfracombe in Bloom has now planted the area with a variety of small shrubs, including lavandula, cistus, hydrangea, ceonothus & thyme, as well as some perennials and will continue to add further planting and maintain this area.

Horticultural Achievement

4

With the help of Community Resources Devon CIC a small area at the junction of St Brannocks Road and Bicclescombe Park Road which has been very over grown for many years has now been cleared and planted with a variety of small shrubs and perennials.

Horticultural Practice

Most of the annual planting done by Ilfracombe in Bloom has been done using Durstons Peat Free Compost with Revive from Viridor with slow release feed. The displays are watered, weeded and deadheaded on a regular basis and regularly fed with Tomorite. The major displays are watered with ‘grey’ water taken from a private source, for which there is a licence to extract. The displays on the bandstand have an automated water supply and for the remainder of areas wherever possible we use water from rainwater butts. All our troughs have a water reservoir, as do the new planters in Broad Street, so cutting down on the amount of watering required. We continue to replace bedding plants in areas we are responsible for with shrubs, perennials and bulbs wherever possible, thus increasing the year round interest. This is part of our sustainability campaign. When dismantling the displays at the end of the season plants are saved where possible or composted and the compost is spread over permanent planted areas such as the Wilder Road gardens. North Devon Council have reduced the use of seasonal bedding, replacing with shrubs and herbaceous borders, supplemented with some seasonal bedding. Peat free compost is used and discarded bedding plants are recycled by being dug in or composted. Leaf litter is made into leafmold for soil conditioning. Community Resources clients use plants they have grown themselves in their allotment, or have had donated to them, for their seasonal planting. There are several development sites in the town where we expect to see considerable improvement during the next year with some mature planting. The McCarthy & Stone development overlooking the harbour is due for completion next spring and the derelict hotel on the seafront owned by Wetherspoons is scheduled to be demolished and rebuilding to commence this autumn.

5

Residential & Community Gardening There is a thriving local gardens competition run by Mike Edmunds on our behalf. He arranges for someone from outside the area to carry out the judging – they have come from as far away as Australia in the past! Judging takes place in July with the awards being presented at the AGM of Ilfracombe in Bloom to which all entrants are invited and is followed by a magnificent buffet courtesy of Mr and Mrs Edmunds. Ivan Frances, our chairman, received the ‘Outstanding Achievement’ award for 2010.

Special Award - Parliament Court

Large Garden – Round House Small Garden – 4 Brookdale Ave Without Garden - Clifton Court

North Devon Journal 14th April 2011

The categories are Hotel & Guest House 11 beds & over Hotel & Guest House up to 10 beds Houses with large front gardens Houses with small front gardens Houses without gardens Shops, Cafes & Offices Pubs Residential, Nursing & Warden Homes

6

Large Hotel – The Darnley Small Hotel – Marine Court Shops & Cafes – Curiosity Cottage

Public House – Prince of Wales Residential Home – Windsor Court Pedlar’s Shop

Candar Social Housing Clifton Court Queens Avenue Allotments Wilder Road Car Park

Ilfracombe Allotment and Leisure Garden Association has 60 allotments that are scattered throughout the town on 5 sites. The rules of the association are very tight and anyone that does not adhere to the rules is asked to vacate their plot. This ensures that all plots are looked after properly. The allotment availability is limited by the lack of suitable land and because of this there is a waiting list of some 75 persons. Every year the allotment holders hold an AGM and a competition to show off their produce. At this meeting there is usually a speaker on some horticultural topic. Because the Allotment Association encourages these ‘get togethers’ there is a great feeling of camaraderie and most plot holders do their best to help their neighbours.

In addition to those allotments run by the local association Greener Ilfracombe has community allotments at Calf Green and are creating new community ones at Laston Green and both Infant & Junior schools grow their own vegetables.

Car Parks – At Wilder Road car park we have repaired and painted the low fencing around the beds with the help of volunteers. Also cut back some of the large shrubs which has allowed some perennial plants to appear again this year. In addition we have planted some hydrangea and potentilla. The other main car parks are in more exposed areas and have larger shrubs which are maintained by North Devon Council.

7

Business Areas and Premises

A number of the High Street Shops have baskets – some of their own and several that are purchased through us and which we maintain and water through the summer for a small additional charge.

Webbers Estate Agents & Roomers Buddy’s American Bar Carlton Hotel

Tunnels Beaches Bath House The Avalon Mullacott Park

Green Spaces - Ilfracombe is surrounded by its natural beauty, which includes Hillsborough, Capstone Hill and the Torrs but has few man made green spaces, the main ones being Bicclescombe Park, St James Park, the Seafront & Runnymede Gardens all of which are owned by North Devon Council. Bicclescombe Park celebrates it’s centenary in August this year. The Parks & Amenities team were again successful in retaining the Green Flag award for a seventh year in 2010. Several community groups are involved with Bicclescombe park. There is the Bicclescombe Park User Group which meets quarterly, the 50+ Group who meet monthly. Also the Ilfracombe Tennis Club which has been in existance since 1947 and the Ilfracombe Model Boat Club which was formed in 2001. A group of ‘Mums’ have started holding events to raise funds for new play equipment and have raised enough to purchase two new pieces. Karen Hawkins, with the help of the Community Resources group has cleaned and repaired the mosaics by the lake.

St James Park Bicclescombe Park Mosaic Bicclescombe Park in Spring

8

Seafront Crazy Golf Runnymede Gardens Southern Slopes

North Devon Journal 9th February 2011

North Devon Journal 10th August 2010

9

Marlborough Road Cemetery, with it’s breath taking views, including sea views is looked after by North Devon Council. The cemetery is 8.88 acres in size and came into operation in 1926. A small chapel is situated at the entrance to the cemetery and there is a pretty woodland wild flower area for the scattering of ashes. With traditional Monterey pine trees, drifts of daffodils March/April and sustainable landscape maintenance, the cemetery is made up of 22 blocks which comprise of the following style plots: traditional, lawn memorial, cremation and child. Wildlife is also an important feature within the cemetery, including squirrels,foxes, badgers, woodpeckers, jackdaws and other varieties of birds.

As part of the RHS & Woodland Trust’s ‘Planting Trees for the Community’ we had a year-round colour pack of 105 trees. Half we shared between the junior school for their woodland area, North Devon Council to plant in Bicclescombe Park & the War Memorial gardens to replace the birch trees that had bee removed. The remainder we planted at the new skate Park, Benricks, with the help of young skate park users and Transform on March 26th to start to create a hedge.

North Devon Journal April 2011

10

Permanent Planting

Wilder Road Gardens Southern Slopes

Local Garden in May Local Garden in July

Albert Court Runnymede Gardens

Sensory Garden – Bicclescombe Park Bicclescombe Park

11

Summer Displays 2011

Victoria Place Planter on the Cove Bicclescombe Park

Boat at Hele Round Table Sponsored Boats

Bandstand in Runnymede Gardens Tower in St Brannocks Road

Troughs ready for going out Ilfracombe Rotary Sponsored Boat

12

Conservation & Biodiversity Ilfracombe sits in the middle of the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Coastal Preservation Zone. The North Devon Voluntary Marine Conservation Area was set up in 1994 and is now managed through the Devon Wildlife Trust, to raise awareness of the importance of the sea and the wildlife that supports it. Stretching from Combe Martin to Croyde and to an offshore depth of 20 metres. The area includes a range of valuable marine habitats from rocky shores and muddy harbours to sandy beaches and coves. They support a great diversity of wildlife including rare and unusual creatures such as cold-water corals, porpoises and seals.

Hillsborough is a local nature reserve overlooking the town and harbour. The great banked earthworks of an Iron Age fort are still very visible today. Work was carried out last winter, mainly by volunteers, to help conserve this area.

North Devon Journal 3rd February 2011

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

13

Mullacott Roundabout is owned by Devon County Council but Ilfracombe in Bloom was responsible for the design and implementation of the natural landscape in 1990 and we continue to maintain and replant as necessary. The roundabout is 800ft above sea level and exposed from every direction to sea winds, being one of the highest points in the area. The central area is planted as a wild flower meadow. Surrounding this is a rockscape with heathers, junipers, native rockroses, gorse and very large rock ‘outcrops’ with scree slopes. The grass verge is mowed on a regular basis and the clippings removed in order to reduce the fertility of the soil and encourage wild plants. This fringe is planted with wild daffodils and primroses. The central wild-flower meadow is managed as a hay meadow and the balance of flowers varies from year to year. The whole area is cut in September and the clippings left for several days to release the seeds before being raked up and removed for composting.

Tunnels Beaches continue to shine like coastal gems ...and that's official, having retained their Blue Flags in recognition of their high quality. They have once again met stringent criteria in environmental education and information, environmental management, safety and services and water quality.

14

The Cairn Pleasure Ground & Old Railway - The Cairn is some 15 hectares of mixed woodland and grassland. Work to improve what was a rocky outcrop was started in 1893 by Ilfracombe Town Council who created paths and benches. Around 1900 – 1912 further paths were added plus trees planted, mainly conifers and beech. In addition a tea room/shelter was added near the top. Up until 2001 the level of maintenance gradually declined with the subsequent loss of biodiversity and ability for the public to access the Cairn. In 2001 the Cairn Conservation Carers group was formed with two main aims (1) To improve the biodiversity and (2) To improve and maintain the numerous paths, create new ones and rediscover some original ones.

They have mainly spent the last year continuing conservation works clearing bramble, bracken etc in specific areas on the Cairn, Bailey’s Cleave and Bailey’s woods in order to provide improved habitats for wildflowers, birds and butterflies. The spraying of Bailey’s Cleave Bracken with Asulox by NDC has proven to be highly successful with less than 10% of bracken remaining in the areas sprayed. It is intended to spray the remaining areas this year in the hope of reducing the incidence to near zero and thus allow the wildflowers etc. to flourish once more, they do of course leave some areas of bracken untouched as these provide habitats for some butterflies and birds and provide shelter for small mammals. It has already been noticed that the lesser butterfly orchids are significantly on the increase and a small area of twayblades has appeared. The early purple orchids in Bailey’s woods were once again abundant this spring and the show of bluebells was quite breathtaking particularly in areas cleared the previous year. One disappointment this year was the reduced numbers of early summer wildflowers and butterflies following the excellent spring showing – possibly a result of the unusual weather experienced last year reducing the over wintering butterflies and the number of flowers seeded for this year. They have continued to improve and repair the paths in order to provide access for the local population and the many summer visitors to Ilfracombe with all cuttings and scrapings raked onto one side of the paths away from the edges thus giving sources of food and shelter to the birds and mammals. In January they undertook their annual bird box survey, which this year included, installing an additional 3 bird boxes and a Tawny Owl box. We gave an illustrated talk on the history of the Cairn as part of the Ilfracombe Victorian celebrations and will be running the first of our free Bat Walk and Bug Hunt weekends in early July. The weekends run last year were highly successful and several of those attending last year want to come again this year. We are looking at creating path markers and guide signs on some paths to enable visitors not familiar with the Cairn to find their way to the main view points and back, and as a policy will continue to clear bramble etc from more areas on the Cairn in the hope of maintaining and increasing the improvements seen since last year.

15

Resource Management

North Devon Council promotes recycling and composting. They operate a weekly kerbside collection for recycling, minimising the amount of waste sent to landfill – the green box scheme collects glass, metals, plastics, cardboard & paper as well as clean clothes and shoes. There is a fortnightly alternate black (domestic waste) and green (garden waste) wheelie bin service with those where wheelie bins cannot be used receiving a weekly black bag collection. Food Caddies were introduced in 2009 and are collected along with recycling for those without green wheelie bins, or with the green wheelie bin. Trade waste is collected on a weekly basis and businesses can pay to have it collected up to three times a week. There are recycling bins for paper, cans and bottles placed around the town.

Killacleave, on the edge of town, is the local recycling centre and is open seven days a week throughout the year. Any non commercial waste can be taken there, with the exception of food waste.

Community Resources (Devon) CIC collect and sort for recycling cardboard, paper, steel and aluminium cans, plastic containers and plastic film from businesses. They have also started making pet bedding from newspaper and this side of the business is slowly developing and the equipment for this is now in place. They have installed public aluminium drinks can recycling units at the seafront and skateboard park to enhance recycling rates and introduce a new concept in public recycling. These units allow the public to insert a can and then crush it themselves. This is a novelty for younger people and helps them to collect an improved amount of cans from the bins each time they visit, cutting back on their carbon footprint.

Bottles being compacted for recycling Cardboard for compacting Drinks Can Recycling Unit

16

Local Heritage

Through the North Devon Plus Joint Delivery Team a new arch has been ereceted at the top of Fore Street to entice people down to the harbour area. Banners have been created using the ‘curious coastal charm’ theme and are erected onto lamp posts throughout the town for the summer months. There are also new maps in all the car parks. Having received funding from ANOB there will soon be more interpretation boards on the South West Coast path through the town depicting the town’s history, fluara and bird life as well as harbour activites.

Farmers markets are held twice a month in the Lantern Centre, in the High Street, the first Saturday & third Sunday, selling local produce & crafts. A local company procudes a ‘Local Farm Box’ that promises to deliver the freshest vegetables and fruits from local farms and independent producers to the doorstep . The range of fresh produce is vast and as well as fruit and vegetables includes meat, dairy & eggs.

As part of our marine connection several of our displays have been created using boats that have been donated to us.

Make me Smile Boat Sheep by the Landmark Petroc students art work

Artwork can be found in various places around the town. By the Landmark is the mosaic noting the achievements of Jonathon Edwards, Olympic Gold medal winner and World Record Triple jump holder who lived in the town from 1976 to 1987 when his father was the vicar of St Philip & St James.

Along Wilder Road is a display of pictures titled ‘ECOArt on Prescription’ which was inspired by the coastline at Wilders Mouth & Capstone Hill. Students from Petroc college took part in a series of workshops gaining confidence and skill. There are stainless steel people by Bob Walters, a local artist, in the gardens at the bottom of Northfield Road & in the courtyard to the Lantern Community Centre in the High Street and this year as part of a Devon Schools project the local schools decorated sheep.

Jonathon Edwards Mosaic Steel Men at Northfield Rd Fore Street & Harbour Arch Street Banner

17

Local Environmental Quality

‘Reclaim Your Street’ was an initiative started by Ilfracombe in Bloom in 2010 to encourage people to look after their own street. We worked with Greener Ilfracombe to design the leaflet, Transform paid for the printing. This year they have been distributed with the local community magazine FOCUS.

Dog Fouling – Ilfracombe Street Reps have set up a reporting system on the website, where residents can register an incident they have spotted. The Five P's (Pin Pointing Pooch Poop Problems) campaign aims to collate information from reports by residents about dog fouling, so that hot spots can be identified and steps taken to eradicate the problem. To report an incident residents can go to the website www.ilfracombestreetreps.org.uk or they can register an incident at the reception desk in the Ilfracombe Centre. Dog waste bines are supplied by the North Devon Council and are sited in the parks and open areas of the town. They are emptied on a regular basis and on the odd occasion where there has been a problem it has been dealt with the same day. Cigarette Bins - In 2010 the Ilfracombe Street Reps working with Transform arranged for the purchase of cigarette litterbins that can be found outside public houses etc. There are also dog waste bins in all the parks and open spaces.

New Beach Safe Signs Empty Shop painted by students

Transform is the Neighbourhood Management Programme in North Devon Neighbourhood Management is a way of working that gives local people more say over the way their neighbourhood is run... then brings them together with service providers to find new ways to make their communities cleaner, safer and better

18

Pride of Place Ilfracombe in Bloom has worked along with other groups including local Councillors, Street Reps, Greener Ilfracombe, the Town Council and Parish Lengthsman to clear weeds and litter from the streets.

ND Gazette 16.3.2011

North Devon Journal 14th April 2011 Weed Clearing

19

Development & Continuity Ilfracombe in bloom continues to take over small areas of the town to enhance them for the good of the town. These include Victoria Place, small plot at the corner of St Brannocks Road & Bicclescombe Park, Trinity Gardens, Albert Court, Rotary boat at Hillsborough, Wilder Road gardens and planters on the Harbour Masters Office etc. We are looking to improve the raised beds at the corner of New Barnstaple Road, to do more work at Trinity gardens and possibly on the pier by St Nicholas Chapel in the future. Whenever we are working for Ilfracombe in Bloom we wear visibility jackets which as well as being a safety measure also advertise the work we are carrying out. Communication & Education We have two local newspapers North Devon Journal & North Devon Gazette, both of which are very good at promoting any projects we are involved in. the North Devon Journal runs a ‘Your Pics’ photo page where anyone can send in photos and £1 per photo goes to the nominated cause. Last year Cow Green raised more than £350. Any events we participate in we send in photos so promoting ourselves to the community. In addition we have two free magazines FOCUS and EX34. A new website is being created www.ilfracombeinbloom.co.uk which should go live later this month. When completed we hope it will be linked to the www.visitilfracombe.co.uk site as well as www.theilfracombecentre.co.uk so it will be available for residents and visitors to see the work that we do.

Community

Participation

20

Community Involvement

Fuchsia Hedge Cutting – Spring 2011

Flowering Perennials Garden on a Plate

Lee Village

Lee, 2 miles to the West of Ilfracombe forms part of the West Ward and is part of Ilfracombe in Bloom. The picturesque village is situated in a deep ‘combe’ and is often referred to locally as "Fuchsia Valley". During the flowering season many of the village hedgerows are ablaze with the scarlet flowers. Their hanging baskets are provided by the Lee Residents Association. To support this they hold a Coffee Morning & Plant Sale in May and a Flower Show is held in late July

21

Ilfracombe on Bloom

Seed Planting Demonstration North Devon Journal 3rd March 2011

Community Resources Display Seed Swap Cow Green Stand

Greener Ilfracombe Open Day

including the Farmers Market

& St John Ambulance Blood Pressure Checks

Exhibitors Community Resources CIC Community Transport Cow Green Community Garden Friend of Ilfracombe Library Greener Ilfracombe Ilfracombe in Bloom Ilfracombe Rotary Club Instrumented Hive Project Street Reps Trans-Send

22

Ilfracombe Schools

Ilfracombe Rotary Club have been working with the ‘End Polio Now’ campaign. They asked pupils at the Junior School & Arts College to plant hundreds of purple crocuses in October. Why purple? When children are vaccinated in India a finger is dipped in purple dye to show they have been vaccinated

North Devon Journal 14th October 2010

23

Ilfracombe Junior School has various groups from year 3 to year 6 have planted sapling trees in the woodland area, and helped clear the pond in Ashleigh's garden. The woodland area is a place where the school does some forest school activities as part of the life-skills programme, and is currently having newer features added. The pond appears to have a leak so they are repairing that as a part of the clearing, and it will be redeveloped by 'The Friends of Ilfracombe Junior School' during the summer. Ilfracombe Arts College is to get more involved and is starting a horticultural course in September

Planting in October 2010 Crocuses in March 2011

Ilfracombe Infant School Since last year their gardening project has developed considerably. This is a result of the enthusiasm of the Head-Teacher and the children and also through the generous support of the local community. They now use gardening to enhance their lessons – they planted up a wheelbarrow on the theme of the book ‘Where the Wild Things Are’. The County Council gave a grant towards a green house so that they are now able to grow most of their own plants from seed and garden through the winter. They received a ‘Cutting Your Waistline Grant’ and are now able to compost not just garden waste but also fruit waste and the cooked and uncooked food from the school canteen. The local Rotary Club gave some money and so they were able to plant an orchard of apple trees. The Lion’s Club are going to give them a pear tree and some fruiting cherry trees. They have flowering planting pouches to enhance the Foundation Stage patio area and even the youngest children have got the gardening bug and are busy growing all manner of things in metre squares outside their classroom.

24

Ilfracombe in Bloom continues to take an active role in Greener Ilfracombe which is a network of conservation, green space and horticultural voluntary organisations in the area. All are involved in preserving, enhancing and regaining community green space in our densely built town. Greener Ilfracombe has signed a license to let them turn some overgrown land at Larkstone into community allotments to be known as Laston Green. They started to clear the land in July 2010, with the help of Ilfracombe Healthy Town and students from the college. The college are planning to start

horticultural based teaching from this September and have expressed an interest in continuing involvement with developing Laston Green. During the first day of clearing a clump of Japanese knotweed was found so that was ring-fenced and they are getting it treated. The cleared site produced a huge amount of rubbish as well as garden waste. A contractor dug out root balls, lifted and repositioned some trees that were where a path is planned, removed brambles and rotovated and terraced the area. At the beginning of April 300 fruiting hedge trees were planted as part of the RHS & Woodlands Trust tree-planting scheme, the remaining 100 were left until the terracing has been completed.

As there is no water on site so they have decided not to start planting until there is some form of irrigation in place...this is still work in progress so they have decided to plant some root vegetables in the meantime. Progress is slow, but steady and they envisage that it will really start to move in the autumn.

Starting Work July 2010 Cleared ready for Hedge Planting

Tree Planting North Devon Journal 14th April 2011

25

Calf Green went through a slow time but it now has a committee who are getting the things in order. They have a register of plot-holders, have sorted out the shared spaces and have had an offer of a greenhouse, so have identified a site for it.

Cow Green Community Garden - The garden was born in 2002 and with the help of many volunteers. The paths, huge water tanks and railings were installed. Over 100 woodland trees and willows were donated and planted in the woodland area. It has been another busy year for Cow Green. Last summer they ran three successful workshops for children, which were well attended. The children took part in a session about bees, enjoyed art and craft activities and helped plant new shrubs. There was also story-telling and cakes on offer. In October they took part in 'make a difference' day, the nationwide initiative to encourage new volunteers. Despite atrocious weather conditions a few brave volunteers battled the elements to help plant daffodil bulbs around the garden. They reaped the benefit in the spring when the garden was enhanced by clusters of daffodils. In January the garden held the annual bird watch, which was well attended. Despite chilly conditions many visitors turned out to help count native garden birds. They even had some chickens to add to our survey! Cow Green was also successful in gaining a small Town Council Grant to purchase two new planters. These were built by a local carpenter and are now in place. They took part in the Greener Ilfracombe event held at the Lantern where they publicised the garden and had a lucky dip, which raised enough money to purchase some shrubs. Early summer saw the dismantling of an old arbour to make way for a new area especially for gardeners with mobility problems, this will be landscaped over the coming months. They welcomed visits from the Junior School and Terry Elliott gave a talk on consecutive days to all Year 4 classes. The garden continues to evolve and there have been several donations of plants from local gardeners. They also received a small grant for some new tools from B&Q, which we were very grateful for particularly as we had our wheelbarrows stolen. We have a small band of regular volunteers but we always welcome more.' They have work-ins every Friday between 10 and 12 and there are always volunteers on the garden at that time.

26

Community Resources (Devon) CIC is a community not for profit company set up to provide meaningful activities for adults with learning disabilities. The activities involve community work for local groups and others as well as commercial environmental work for local businesses. In addition they have an allotment, which is accessed by other groups with learning disabilities as well as their own service users. This year they have continued with their gardening work. They have built a Japanese garden at Ilfracombe Junior School as well as carrying out work on the schools woodland area. Regular ground maintenance work is still carried out at Cow Green, Calf Green, The Vision Community Centre at Slade and Ilfracombe Infants School and some further work at Berrynarbor School clearing paths and hedgerows. Parks work at Bicclescombe Park is still ongoing weekly and includes carrying out litter picking, planting, weeding, and furniture maintenance. A project to carry out preparation and planting at the new Oxford Park play area was also completed. They continue with their recycling operation and have now stared making pet bedding from newspaper. New aluminium drink can recycling units have been installed on the seafront and the skate park. The beekeeping is an ongoing project and provides learning opportunities for the group as well as helping the natural environment. Work at Chambercombe to enhance the wildlife habitat continues. They have diversified the woodwork project at Hele and now recover pallet wood and use this to produce items such as a picket fence for the allotment, garden chairs, plant troughs and trellis. The allotment work goes on and they use solar power there to power a pump to draw water for watering the allotment and they took part in the RHS/Woodland Trust tree planting campaign in March. The biggest project this year was the Pitch & Putt course in Ilfracombe. This has provided numerous opportunities for their group whilst improving a public amenity:

i. Provides work opportunities for our group such as green and fairway grass cutting, serving the public from the kiosk, upkeep of the surrounding area and car park.

ii. Extended opening hours of the facility (7 days a week and a minimum of 8 hours a day early season)

iii. The above provides an improved facility for the community and tourist industry of the town.

North Devon Journal 28th April 2011

27

North Devon Journal 11th June 2011

The Year at a Glance - 2010/2011 has been another busy year

July 20th Judging day for South West in Bloom & Neighbourhood Awards and once again the rains came down!!

July 28th Green Flag for 2010 raised in Bicclescombe Park July 29th Lee Flower Show Aug 15th Rotary Car Boot at Rugby Club – Raised £78 from bric-a-brac stall Aug 16th Ilfracombe in Bloom committee meeting Sept 7th Greener Ilfracombe meeting Sept 15th Horticultural Society annual show Sept 16th SW in Bloom awards day in Bath. Very successful day with Ilfracombe in Bloom

getting a Silver Gilt in the Sargent Cup and Community Resources (Devon) CIC getting the Gordon Ford Trophy for the Best Neighbourhood Award. Other Neighbourhood Awards were Calf Green Allotments – Improving & Cairn Conservation Carers – Thriving.

Sept 20th Ilfracombe Town Mayor presented Gordon Ford Trophy to Community Resources

Oxford Park

Members of Ilfracombe Junior Citizens first identified a need for a play area in this central part of town. A redundant grass area has now been transformed with gym equipment, picnic benches and a dog walking area.

28

Sept 26th Hanging baskets, towers etc taken down Oct 1st Rotary & schools involved in planting crocus bulbs for eradicating polio’ project. Oct 3rd to 5th summer bedding removed from boats and St Brannocks planters and replanted

with primulas. All troughs removed, cuttings taken from begonias & geraniums to grow on for 2011.

Oct 12th Ilfracombe in Bloom committee meeting Oct 20th Bicclescombe Park User Group meeting Nov 9th Quiz at George & Dragon – raised £200 Dec 2nd Strategy meeting about Seafront development 2011 Jan 5th Greener Ilfracombe meeting Jan 13th Greener Ilfracombe meeting to discuss open day Jan 19th Bicclescombe Park User Group meeting Jan 21st Meeting with North Devon council re Trinity Place & War Memorial Gardens Jan 24th Ilfracombe in Bloom meeting Feb 3rd Greener Ilfracombe Open Day meeting Feb 7th Ordered 105 all year round colour trees from RHS Britain in Bloom/Woodlands

Trust for the native tree-planting project. Feb 8th Quiz at George & Dragon – raised £250 Feb 16th Meeting at Ilfracombe Town Council offices with representatives from North

Devon Council, Devon County Council, Ilfracombe Town Council to discuss how with reduced budgets we can work together to make sure the town does not suffer.

Feb 28th Greener Ilfracombe meeting March 8th Meeting with North Devon Council re tree planting at skate park March 12th Green Ilfracombe Open Day including question & answer session – Successful

day with lots of local interest. Raised £25 with second hand bookstall. March 16th Ilfracombe in Bloom AGM & presentation of awards to Local Garden Competition

winners. Followed by buffet. Raffle raised £47 March 26th Tree Planting at Skate Park with help of young park users & Transform March 29th Quiz at George & Dragon – raised £150 March 31st Meeting with Joint Delivery Scheme to discuss planters for Broad Street/Fore

Street April 2nd Open day at Round House for Cairn Carers April 14th Ilfracombe in Bloom meeting April 16th Community Resources CIC official opening of Larkstone Pitch & Putt April 17th Clean up day at Trinity Place April 20th Easter Treasure Hunt in Bicclescombe Park – more than 1000 attended

Bicclescombe Park User Group meeting April 28th Bicclescombe Park mosaics repaired – Karen Hawkins working with Community

Resources group. May 7th Bicclescombe Park Open Day – Ilfracombe in Bloom had a stall selling vegetable

plants donated by a local person and raised £60 May 8th Tabletop sale of bric-a-brac at Landmark Pavilion – only raised £10 May 11th Greener Ilfracombe meeting May 18th Planters in Broad Street/Fore Street planted up May Boats, planters & Troughs all planted May 28th Poles go on Harbour Masters Office ready for cruise ship arriving

29

June 4th Majority if troughs put out June 14th Towers & stanchions go out and troughs & baskets go on the bandstand June 15th Additional planters Broad Street planted up June 16th Remainder of summer displays including handing baskets go out.

Funding & Support

In addition to the financial sponsorship we have received we have also had help with materials and plants from North Devon Council to carry out projects and goods at reduced rates from local suppliers. We have been involved with several fund raising events where we have had stalls selling plants, which we have grown on ourselves, and bric-a-brac. The Ilfracombe & District Tourism Association arranged three quiz nights through the winter months at the George & Dragon where a total of £600.00 was raised.

We are very grateful to all our sponsors for their continued support. Without their help our displays would be depleted as we can only do as our funding will allow.

North Devon Journal 18th November 2010 North Devon Journal 31st March 2011

2011 Sponsors

Filers Travel Ltd Ilfracombe & District Tourism Association North Devon District Councillors Ilfracombe Lions Club Ilfracombe Rotary Club Ilfracombe Town Council John Fowler Holidays Mullacott Park Plus numerous small donations

The Future We will continue to look at areas where we can put more permanent planting and perennials. Also we would like to encourage homeowners on a small estate to take ownership of their communal areas.

30

Ilfracombe in Bloom 15 Montpelier Terrace, Ilfracombe, North Devon EX34 9HR

Telephone: 01271 865910 Email: stbrannocks@aol.com