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Portfolio 2014

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FOREWORDBy Clive Richards OBE DLPatron of Hereford in Bloom

Once again it is my privilege to welcome the Heart of England in Bloom judges to Hereford, a city with a wealth of heritage but also a vision for the future. Much has happened since your visit in 2013 when you honoured us with a Gold Award recognizing the inspiring and innovative work undertaken by the Hereford in Bloom team.

Those innovations – City Garden Festival and Front Gardens competition amongst them – are also part of the 2014 activities programme plus some new ones. We can now show you the completed Old Market development of new shops, cinema and restaurants which has dove-tailed in perfectly with the historic city centre and is well planted with trees, shrubs and hedgerows to complement its country market town location.

Hereford might well be the centre of a huge and thriving farming county, but it has a keen eye for long term industrial

Hereford in Bloom Registered charity no. 1154601. The Bloom Team: Trevor Swindells, Chairman, Richard Weston, Treasurer, George Thomas, Publicity, Angela Pendleton, Trustee, Peter Hill, Trustee, Rita Bishop, Trustee, Geof Tarring, Council Liaison Officer, Kevin Knipe, Wendy Robertson, Eric Fishbourne, Cllr Len Tawn, Mayor, Cllr Jim Kenyon, Cllr Phil Edwards, Cllr Paul Rone.Front cover The tree on the front cover owes its origins to Sandy Elliott, a member of the Hereford Cathedral Chapter. It is displayed on the forecourt of the Cathedral and Sandy kindly gave the designer at Impact carte blanche to recreate a suitable image for Hereford in Bloom.

prosperity and job creation, a vision shared with Government which has granted the city an Enterprise Zone designation and work is getting underway to build new factories. You will be pleased to hear the project includes some exciting environmental initiatives. Hereford is a vibrant and growing city, but one that is determined to protect – and enhance – its natural environment

Yes, there have been some tough challenges this year for the Bloom volunteers, mostly a result of financial cutbacks by Herefordshire Council. Undaunted, the Bloom group, supported by the city council and a surge of community action groups springing up across the city, has tackled these set-backs head-on to ensure Hereford continues to give its visitors a warm, friendly floral welcome. When you set out on your return journey home, I am confident you will agree that the objectives have been achieved.

Clive Richards OBE DL

FOREWORD

BY CLIVE RICHARDS OBE DLPATRON OF HEREFORD IN BLOOM

It is my privilege to welcome the Heart of England in Bloom judges to Hereford and to express the hope that your visit will be both enjoyable and fruitful. As a farmer I know only too well the importance of a balanced and well maintained environment to the well being of our communities and this is something we take very seriously here in Hereford. After all, this is a city surrounded by some of the finest countryside in England.

When you last visited in July 2012 Hereford was about to welcome Her Majesty, the Queen on her Diamond Jubilee national tour and Hereford in Bloom had made an extra special effort to make the city ‘Fit for a Queen,’ and did so in great style. So how could they follow that?

I believe the team has not only met the challenge head on, but excelled itself on several fronts. The introduction of a City Garden Festival and a series of summer garden and shop window competitions to help enhance the city environment and promote community partnerships are two such projects I am personally delighted with.

The benefits to Hereford – and all other towns entering the RHS Britain in Bloom competition – are beyond measure and we are indebted to you and all your fellow judges for so freely giving of your time and experience to ensure the success of such a worthwhile campaign.

Clive Richards

FOREWORD

BY CLIVE RICHARDS OBE DLPATRON OF HEREFORD IN BLOOM

It is my privilege to welcome the Heart of England in Bloom judges to Hereford and to express the hope that your visit will be both enjoyable and fruitful. As a farmer I know only too well the importance of a balanced and well maintained environment to the well being of our communities and this is something we take very seriously here in Hereford. After all, this is a city surrounded by some of the finest countryside in England.

When you last visited in July 2012 Hereford was about to welcome Her Majesty, the Queen on her Diamond Jubilee national tour and Hereford in Bloom had made an extra special effort to make the city ‘Fit for a Queen,’ and did so in great style. So how could they follow that?

I believe the team has not only met the challenge head on, but excelled itself on several fronts. The introduction of a City Garden Festival and a series of summer garden and shop window competitions to help enhance the city environment and promote community partnerships are two such projects I am personally delighted with.

The benefits to Hereford – and all other towns entering the RHS Britain in Bloom competition – are beyond measure and we are indebted to you and all your fellow judges for so freely giving of your time and experience to ensure the success of such a worthwhile campaign.

Clive Richards

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Imagine a town with no flowers! No, not a bad dream but a reality which faced Hereford in Bloom earlier this year when Herefordshire Council announced it had no money to plant up the flower beds and planters around the city.. The cost-cutting plan was to grass over most beds and plant shrubs in others. No splash of floral colour to brighten up the city and its welcome to visitors. Just a drab and dreary prospect.

But Hereford in Bloom, conscious of its hard earned Gold Award in 2013, was not prepared to let this happen and quickly came up with its own ‘flower power’ plan to ensure the beds and planters would, as usual, be full of colourful and cheerful annuals – a partnership with the City Council in which the Bloom group would raise the £8,000 for plants and the City Council would fund the £12,000 cost of watering by the County Council’s contractor, Balfour Beatty. An excellent example of partnership working at its very best, overcoming a very serious threat to the environmental integrity of the city. For HIB it meant a huge struggle to raise the cash for the plants, mostly through sponsorship.

The County Council decision to axe its flower budget could not have come at a worse time as the city’s Old Market shops and leisure development, aimed at attracting thousands of extra visitors to boost the local economy, was about to open and Hereford needed a big buzz if it was to gain attention. Empty flower beds was definitely not a good idea! Placing the order for tens of thousands of plants was a big gamble, but one the Bloom team all agreed was a top priority in its overall entry for the Heart of England in Bloom 2014 competition.

But it is not just pretty flower beds - key though they are to Hereford’s visual appearance – we want to show you. The tour route has been constructed to give you an insight to a

Church Street traders responded well to Hereford In Bloom’s appeal for hanging baskets

variety of projects aimed at creating and enhancing civic pride, improving environment, landscape, sustainability and above all encouraging community groups to take ‘ownership’ of open spaces in their part of town. The reports from each of these in the Portfolio will confirm that community spirit in Hereford is thriving and the future is definitely ‘Green.’

One particular Bloom initiative this year was the introduction of a special award for the best community garden/open space project won by the new Grandstand Road Resident’s Association who fought off County Council plans to build business units on tennis courts and play space in a large housing estate area, took control of the site and turned it into a highly prized community asset. Another was the distribution of 420 young trees to a dozen projects following an application to the Woodland Trust for some of the trees from the national scheme to commemorate the centenary of the start of the First World War. Another batch will be distributed in the autumn. A close working relationship was established with the developers of the Old Market shopping and leisure centre, which opened in April, to ensure plenty of trees, shrubs and hedging was planted and for next Spring it will also have a colourful display of annuals in planters. Links have been made with the new Skylon Park Enterprise Zone project, where plans are being prepared to create a heritage park on the site of what was originally vast factories making explosive shells and bombs for both the first and second World Wars

INTRODUCTION

Hereford In Bloom saved the traditional High Town planters due to be axed by Herefordshire Council, with financial support from Hereford Lions Club and Lucy Hurd

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The route for the 2014 judging has been specifically designed to show some of the new projects which will have a major environmental and cultural impact on Hereford and its people and to which HIB is closely linked.

1.The tour starts at the new Skylon Park Enterprise Zone, where construction work is just getting under way to create a hi-tech business park alongside the existing Rotherwas industrial area where 6000 women were employed in both world wars making explosive shells for the army. One of the original sheds used for filling the shells is still standing and the plan is for it to become the centerpiece of a unique 10 acre heritage park. A truly exciting and visionary prospect, creating a haven of peace in a spot which a century ago spewed out weapons of death and destruction!

2.Our next stop also has a military connection. Saxon Hall, a newly opened community centre was formerly the camp chapel for the 22 SAS Regiment base before it moved to an out of town location and new homes were built on the site. A community garden is being created in the grounds.

3. They do more than just play trains at Hereford Model Railway, every bit of it built over many years by the members. For the last couple of years they have been turning the large riverside site into a model haven for trees, wildflower meadow, a new boating lake and a pond providing natural habitat for wildlife. A real little gem.

4. Just down the lane, on the edge of town, we come to Hereford Community Farm, a new venture in traditional old farm buildings providing therapeutic activities, including organic gardening and furniture making using traditional craft skills, for people with a variety of handicaps.

5. Last year you saw the start of construction work on the old livestock market in the city centre to convert it into a £90m shopping and leisure complex. Now it is open and a big success. Sorry Nicola, but no time for shopping!! Note the

A GLIMPSE AT THE ROUTE

Sculptural figures and objects deployed across the site incorporate audio points where visitors can listen to anecdotes and stories.

Story telling installations

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abundance of trees, shrubs and even proper hedging around the car park Old Market has been designed to blend in with the historic streetscape of a traditional market town.

6. From the old to the new. High Town has been the busy hub of the city for centuries and remains so. Today, the square is hosting the Hereford in Bloom City Garden Festival, launched

last year to celebrate the great joys of gardening. Note the tall ‘Flower Towers’ standing sentinel at the entrance to the Butter Market saved by HIB from the county council axe.

7. A short walk up Church Street, a real city gem with lots of independent shops, most of whom answered our appeal to put up hanging baskets, and into the newly restored Cathedral

Close. The cathedral gardens are all maintained by volunteers. As we drive along Castle Street you will see an avenue of hanging baskets. Another success for the HIB organized hanging basket scheme.

8. Into Castle Green, the magnificent riverside civic park and once the site of a great castle sadly demolished by Cromwell’s men. You are here to see one of the city’s latest community

ventures, an interesting looking building overlooking the River Wye. It was once Hereford Art School and later council offices. Now The Friends of Castle Green have taken it over, renamed it The Pavilion and after restoration it will be a wonderful community asset for a wide range of activities. Even art classes!

9. The final stop is the most popular pub in town, The Barrels – renowned as much for its stunning gardens as its own brewed beer. You will be judging the garden (not the beer!) in the Pub/Hotel category.

Lunch and the opportunity to meet some of our supporters at The Country Gardens centre just outside the city which has been extremely generous in their support this year.

SOWING THE SEEDS FOR BRIGHTER FRONT GARDENS

Hereford in Bloom’s new Front Gardens competi-tion aims to brighten up the streetscape in the city by encouraging more residents to put in extra effort in the design and planting of their front gardens. Said Trevor Swindells: “It can make a huge difference to how the city looks and improve the welcome to visitors. I see the front garden competition as an important project that will develop over the years.”

Winner of the first best front garden trophy and the £200 Radway Bridge Garden Centre voucher is Mary Oliver of Wellington Place, Tupsley whose display of hanging baskets, plants and shrubs surrounding a super acer was described as outstanding by the judges.Runner-up was Di Rogers of Monnow Crescent, Redhill whose garden created a real splash of colour in her neighbourhood. In third place was Andrea Crowe of Waterfield Road, Belmont who has devoted 20 years to ensuring visitors to her home walk through an oasis of calm greenery.

Mary Oliver in her award winning front garden

Andrea Crowe.

Runner-up Di Rogers

CHEERS TO FLOWER POWER PUBS

In the hotels and pubs category The Barrells pub, win-ners of a Gold in last year’s Heart of England cam-paign, were awarded the trophy and a magnum of Pol Roger champagne in recognition of their outstanding work in turning what was once the backyard of the pub into a highly popular community beer garden and focal point for music festivals. Landlord Phil Pryce paid tribute to his gardener Geoff Evans whose labours have created this green oasis right in the centre of the city. Runner-up was The Bay Horse on the outskirts of the city whose creative use of window boxes and hang-ing baskets on the front of the pub gives a wonderful welcome to all who drop in for a pint.

Phil Pryce and gardener Geoff Evans

Flower bedecked Bay Horse

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Hereford in Bloom was originally founded in 1999 and over the next few years introduced many new features to enhance the city landscape, notably:

• The large ‘Welcome to Hereford’ in box hedging• The special ‘Hereford City Council’ bed, also in box• ‘Iron’Trees’ carrying hanging baskets at key points.• Grand display of hanging baskets on the front of the

Town Hall.

• Traditional stone cider presses to reflect the city’s cider making heritage.

• Introduced city wide hanging basket scheme for businesses.

• Launched the City Garden Festival• Introduced Best Front Garden competition• Plus a floral display competition for Businesses• Organised a massive clean-up of the River Wye in the city.

After a break of a few years from the Britain in Bloom competition HIB was reformed four years ago, again under the leadership of its original chairman, Trevor Swindells, but with a new and extended

committee adding an extra dimension to the ideas and forward planning so essential to success. One of the key decisions taken by the committee earlier this year was to apply for the Charity Commissioners Charity status. This was granted. Being formally registered as a Charity gives HIB a number of useful benefits:• An extra 25% tax refund on donations and sponsorships• Increased credibility• Confidence in what we represent.• Direct link to companies who only deal with registered

charities.

BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND

Founded in 1999, Hereford in Bloom was reformed three years ago after a spell out of the Heart of England in Bloom competition, and is now as active – and innovative- as ever. Many of its initiatives from the early days remain key features and more are added each year.We are fortunate in having Clive Richards OBE. DL as Patron. He is always supportive and generous in enhancing the civic pride of the city. The Mayor, Cllr Phil Edwards, himself a champion of the environment, is also a great support.A small, but dedicated team led by chairman Trevor Swindells recognises the value and contribution of being part of the Britain in Bloom campaign, acting as a catalyst for sustained change for improving the environs and the well being of a community.

PARTNERSHIP

Hereford in Bloom is building strategic partnerships across the city to help achieve its objectives. The recent river cleanup exercise with the Sub Aqua club is a classic example. More importantly, encouraging and building relationships with an increasing number of neighbourhood action schemes is paying dividends. Now numbering nine, four up on last year, these groups of volunteers can make a terrific impact in their communities, especially in these austere times when council services are being cut back. Close links have been established with The Hereford Academy who have their own gardens and run a horticultural course. A wrought iron garden arch has been presented to the school.

FUNDING Hereford in Bloom generates its income from sponsorship of roundabouts, grants from local Trusts and firms and the support of Hereford City Council who provide a grant for public realm planting in the city. This Spring saw a new fund raising initiative launched by Herefordshire and Wye Valley in Bloom, an Open Garden event at the home of our Patron Clive Richards with stalls selling a wide range of produce under the ‘Edible Britain’ banner. A great success fully supported by all county Bloom groups.

A. HORTICULTURAL ACHIEVEMENT

A1. Impact

The atrocious weather conditions earlier in the year have caused great consternation for gardeners generally and especially the Amey gardening teams who were over three weeks late getting beds and planters planted up. The sun finally began to shine in early June and its fingers crossed for a good summer display. Ameysource some 45,000 plants for the summer season, with slightly fewer for the winter/spring displays. Particularly attractive are the 17 ready planted ‘flower towers’ bought in by Hereford in Bloom to create a blaze of colour in the city centre. The colour scheme this year is mixed strong colours.

A2. Horticultural practice

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Mayor Brian Wilcox and Lion President John Edmunds dig up the first Diamond Jubilee oak.

Trevor Swindells, the dynamic leader of Hereford in Bloom won the 2012 Heart of England In Bloom award for Outstanding Merit and is seen receiving it from the then Mayor, Cllr Brian Wilcox.

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PARTNERSHIPAbove all, Hereford in Bloom sees itself as a creator of new ideas to enhance the environmental and social impact on the city, and as a facilitator to bring together the wide range of community action groups under the Heart of England in Bloom umbrella. Over the years close working partnerships have been established with both Herefordshire Council, its contractors, now Balfour Beatty and Hereford City Council, as well as the business community, local media and most importantly with a growing number of community groups taking responsibility for previously neglected public open spaces.

The importance of ‘Partnership Working’ was never more true than when HIB was told Herefordshire Council was axing its budget for planting annuals in flower beds and planters. A potential disaster. Bloom went to the City Council with a plan of action – HIB would pay for the plants if the city council would fund the cost of watering. A total cost of £20,000. Balfour Beatty agreed to do the planting out of existing budgets. Plan agreed. Hereford still has its annual splash of floral colour thanks to the quick and positive action of the ‘Bloomers.’

FUNDINGThe recession has not made fund-raising any easier. So the out of the blue need to find an extra £8,000 to pay for plants was a major blow. One bonus was the Highways Agency giving permission for HIB to offer businesses the opportunity to sponsor those roundabouts on the A49 trunk road within the city boundaries. An appeal leaflet was printed and distributed seeking both sponsorship and donations. Whilst HIB was not inundated with cash, sufficient was forthcoming to pay the bill for the plants. One positive outcome for HIB was persuading Tesco not only to sponsor, but also to maintain, the city’s main round-about, flanked on one side by the Tesco store and on the other by the new Debenhams on the new development. Maintenance of roundabouts on the A49 trunk road through the city is the responsibility of the Highways Agency and currently a major problem. HIB is hard at work on plans to overcome this issue long term.

An innovative piece of fundraising has also been launched, not to link in with this year’s Three ChoirsMusic Festival held in Worcester but the 300th Anniversary of the Festival next year in Hereford. This is a joint promotion involving Hereford In Bloom and the Three Choirs Festival Committee. For every £5 donated to Hereford in Bloom, the donor will receive an entry into a competition to win a pair of tickets for either the opening or closing concert at the 2015 festival plus dinner for two at the Castle House Hotel, and if the winner lives within 10 mile of the city a limousine to take them to the concert. A colourful leaflet has been produced to publicize the scheme.

With council spending in towns across England being greatly reduced, environmental and horticultural projects will come under increased pressure and to maintain standards Bloom groups, such as Hereford, will be forced to boost fundraising efforts even further.

PARTNERSHIP & FUNDING

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The introduction of the Hereford in Bloom City Garden Festival is directly aimed at developing an interest in horticulture generally and gardening in particular. It is supported by five local nursery businesses, with a special display by the Great British Florist, who sell only locally grown farm flowers. Herefordshire Nature Trust and a Bee Conservation group are promoting their work as, too, is the new Hereford Community Farm. Visit Herefordshire is taking the opportunity to promote the Flavours of Herefordshire food festival in October. Special thanks to the Coffee Cart Company for its sponsorship of the High Town festival. Also to Hereford Lions Club and Lucy Hurd for sponsoring the two tall flower planters in High Town.

Judging of the entries in the best front garden and best business displays will take place at the end of July to give entrants plenty of time to get their displays in top condition. In view of county council cutbacks it is more important than ever to encourage householders and businesses to go that extra mile and help make the city more attractive to visitors. The HIB hanging basket scheme in conjunction with

Radway Garden Centre included ready planted baskets and regular watering at a very competitive price. Orders topped 100, a great result for HIB members who toured the streets canvassing for orders.

Hereford has some of the best run allotments in the country - mostly because the 500 plots on ten sites, with a further 20 currently being prepared – are council owned but managed entirely by the allotment holders themselves through the Hereford Allotments and Leisure Gardens Association. Women are taking an increasing interest in working their own allotments There is a waiting list for plots.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITYA classic example of environmental responsibility has been displayed by those responsible for planning and designing Hereford’s Skylon Park, the city’s newly designated Enterprise Zone. Their brief is to build new hi-tech factories. But thankfully, they have the vision to see way beyond bricks and mortar. This is a piece of land with a great heritage, a favourite haunt of King James 1. The de Barre family, dating to Norman times, held the land for 800 years. At its centre stood the imposing Rotherwas Mansion, the River Wye to its rear and facing Dinmore Hill, site of an Iron Age fort, and surrounded by a park full of trees. At the turn of the 20th century the last of the family died without heirs. A Polish Count took over the estate and was soon bankrupt. The large estate was sold off in blocks. Herefordshire Council bought 200 acres. The First World War started - a century ago – and the Ministry of Defence requisitioned the council land to build huge munitions factories employing up to 6,000 women making 70,000 explosive shells a week for the army. It would do the same job again in World War 11. Eventually the council regained control of the Rotherwas site and turned it into an industrial park. Now a 47 acre section, including the last remaining shell filling sheds of World War 1, is being developed as an Enterprise Zone specialising in hi-tech defence industry firms. The units will each be located in their own woodland glades with water features. But the idea that has got everyone excited is the proposal to create a unique Heritage Park within the Zone with the old shell factory at its centre and bringing to life the story of its grim past. A big part of the project – and one in which Hereford in Bloom will play a part – is the planting of trees, wildflower meadows and wildlife corridors to re-establish the kind of landscape that existed in the heyday of the long gone Rotherwas Mansion.

Yet another fine example of responsibility in protecting and enhancing the natural environment is the work being undertaken by the members of Hereford Model Railway Club on their riverside site. Over the past 20 years these engineers with a passion for building and running miniature steam engines have built a complete working railway with several miles of track. That job done, they are now spending the weekly workday making into a wildlife haven. Trees, new hedging and wildflowers have been planted; a pond built and the latest project is to build a large model boating lake.

HORTICULTURAL ACHIEVEMENT

City garden festival in full-swing

Real hedging around the Old Market shopping centre

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Communities In Action 1

GRANDSTAND ROAD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

The second year of the Hereford City Community Group Achievement Awards, introduced by the city council clearly showed that community spirit and civic pride was alive and well in Hereford. Faced with severe cutbacks by Herefordshire Council to many of the services long taken for granted, particularly in the area of parks and public open spaces, citizens action groups started springing up across the city two years ago. The result has been fantastic. Groups of residents have taken ‘ownership’ of neglected spaces, some so badly overgrown they were unusable, and restored them for the benefit of the public.

Grandstand Road Community Association, winner of the top award and a £1,000 prize, is a classic example. They also won the Bloom award for the best garden/open space project. The

county council announced it was going to build business units on tennis courts and play area serving a large housing estate. The local residents, led by their ward Councillor Charles Nicolls, objected and not only won the fight to keep the open space but persuaded the council to hand over control of the site.. Teams of volunteers got to work on a massive clear-up: brambles and undergrowth was removed, youngsters did litter picks, the tennis courts were reinstated. A year on and a space abandoned by the county council is rejuvenated and once again used by hundreds of youngsters, many from other parts of the city. Its also the venue for a new community games event and extra sporting facilities, even a croquet lawn are envisaged. Charles and his fellow volunteers are even tackling the overgrown grass verges, and building a new sense of pride in the community. It’s a work in progress, but evidence that ‘people power’ can work and improve communities. This group of volunteers, inspired by Charles Nicholls, has already made a huge impact on the neighbourhood in just 12 months and have big plans for the future.

The Achievement Award judges comments: This is a truly amazing group and what they have achieved in their first year is astounding.

COMMUNITIES IN ACTION

JOB DONE!

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CENTRAL TUSPLEY COMMUNITY GROUPAcross the city a similar project run by Central Tupsley Community Group is proving that communities in charge of their own destiny can often do a far better job than the local authority, especially with public open spaces. At the centre of the sprawling housing estate is a onetime clay quarry transformed many decades a go by the council into a park area. But in recent years lack of maintenance left the park in a poor state and badly needing some TLC. The newly formed action group raised £50,000 and carried out a major two year renovation of The Quarry. Over 3000 attended a launch picnic last July. Next was a Bonfire Night party, and another 3000 partygoers. These were spectacular events in the community’s own backyard – and in a sparkling new look park created by neighbours. The comments on Twitter and Facebook – most using the word ‘Fantastic’ - summed up the success of the project. This group were runners-up in the Achievement Awards and received £500.

CTCG was formed in February 2012 with the aim of enhancing the quality of life, vitality and safety of the Central Tupsley Community. The group’s objectives include:

• Improving community areas/parks • Preserving community heritage • Organising social activities • Promoting volunteering• Fundraising• Engaging young people• Addressing environmental issues, road safety & anti-social

behaviourNow in its third year, CTCG is vibrant and strong with 20 committee members and over 600 followers on Facebook. To date, CTCG and its supporters have: • Held numerous litter picks at The Quarry, attended by

over 80 volunteers • Held social events at The Quarry including an annual

summer Picnic in the Park and Bonfire Night fireworks events. These events were each attended by over 3000 people, raising thousands of pounds for the group

• Built a footpath through St Paul’s Churchyard to enable children to walk safely to School and Nursery from Church Road.

• Held regular volunteer work parties at Tupsley Quarry to assist Herefordshire Council Countryside Service to manage the Local Nature Reserve onsite. Volunteers helped to clear scrub, creating wildlife corridors, allowing bats and birds easier flight paths in and out of the LNR. Volunteer parties have continued in 2014 and work has begun to improve the amphibian habitat of some of the ponds in the LNR.

• Built several flowerbeds at The Quarry play area, some of which were sown with seeds by local children.

• In the summer of 2013, the group carried out a renovation of The Quarry, which included re-surfacing 2255 sq m of footpath, installing new bins and accessible benches and a handrail along the access steps onsite.

In its third year, CTCG continues to grow, build relationships with partner groups and organisations and empower the community of Central Tupsley.

The judges comments: In just two years this group has achieved a phenomenal amount.

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HEREFORD COMMUNITY FARM

The Community Farm was originally established in 2007, but moved to its Hereford location in September last year. It provides inclusive therapeutic land based activities and skills training for people who are disadvantaged through disability, ill health, social need or any other condition or situation which has an impact on their daily life.

‘Our vision is to provide innovative, caring and supportive life experiences, work opportunities and structured learning programmes for people of all ages and backgrounds who have specific difficulties and who would benefit from the therapeutic effects of working with animals, horticulture and the environment.’

Activities on offer include Green Woodworking, Organic Horticulture, Arts & Crafts, Cookery & Life Skills and working with the animals and ponies. There is a skilled and dedicated team of staff and volunteers who work closely with those attending the farm. The new base at Warham Court, close to the city is an ideal base to extend collaborative community working including an Outreach Gardening Programme. This will include growing plants and produce for local cafes and shops and assisting in the development and maintenance of other community garden spaces as an extension of a Supported Employment programme for people

disadvantaged in the workplace. Future development plans include a Farm Shop and Tea Room providing supported employment and skills training and an accessible Orchard Nature Trail.

The Community Farm is a social business that is self funded, but with grants and fundraising contributing to new development projects. The organisation works as sustainably as possible – waste is recycled or composted, rainwater is harvested to irrigate the garden, constructional projects use recycled materials and supplies are purchased from other local small businesses wherever possible.

In 2010 the organisation was awarded The Social Enterprise Mark in recognition of its social, ethical and environmental values – one of the first Herefordshire businesses to achieve this.

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PUTSON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

The first phase, the opening of a new community centre in what had previously been the 22 SAS Regiment camp chapel, got underway at the beginning of 2013, with the second phase, the development of the grounds starting in March this year. In just this short period the success of the project has been amazing.

The SAS Regiment moved to a new out of town site and houses built on the original base. The chapel and grounds was handed over for community use and is now a thriving hub for community activities. But what is happening outside is even more exciting:

• Development of a Community Garden Project to provide a creative open space to use the garden for recreation, exercise, therapy and education.

• Promotion of community participation, schools projects, training courses, recycling and composting, volunteering, transfer of skills and partnership work with other organisations, charities and community groups.

• An open space for community involvement using the land for a community garden separating the land into areas for different groups to work on the community space provided. A part of the land designated to sensory experience and promotion of natural habitat and pollination. Raised beds and a raised potting area for disabled access.

• It will bring together diverse age groups with youngsters working alongside the older generation enabling a transfer of skills.

• Workshops for children and a sensory experience to stimulate minds.

• The Community Garden Project will focus on getting more people working together in the community.

• Opportunities to offer community training and to build on skills within the project.

• Build areas of natural habitats for wildlife and the promotion of recycling.

• At the heart of the project the garden will provide organic food that will be used for healthy eating projects and educational workshops.

• The produce will also be sold in the community café helping sustainability. Seed and plant swopping with other communities’ garden projects is encouraged.

• Parts of the South Wye area fall into the 25% of the most deprived in England, with a large portion not having access to green open spaces. Evidence from consultation in the area proves the need for a project like this, and from recent surveys the majority of people have said a Garden Project would benefit the local community

The Community Garden Project is a partnership with the established South Wye Amateur Gardeners and support is coming from all quarters, including local supermarkets; Welsh Water, Hereford Community Farm have provided advice and plants. Hereford City Council provided the funds for a fruit orchard. The Hereford Academy horticulture students have designed and are currently building an easy access area The Community Garden project is in its infancy but already taking shape less than five months after the first sod was cut

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THE ROTHERWAS PROJECTRotherwas was once one of Herefordshire’s great estates, a grand mansion set in parkland on the banks of the River Wye just three miles from Hereford city centre. The red brick mansion was built in 1722 on the site of a much earlier house. The 2,500 acre estate had been in the De la Barre family from Norman times, eventually passing to the Bodenham family through marriage. King James 1st was a frequent visitor.

The estate was renowned for its abundance of food, fruit and fish, especially a plentiful catch of salmon from the River Wye, all much enjoyed by King James, and a writer of the time compared it to Kent, known then, as now, as the ‘Garden of England.’

The tranquil lifestyle of country gentry was broken up after surviving for more than 800 years, when in 1912 bankruptcy led to the estate being sold. But the peace of this fertile land was to be even more cruelly shattered when the First World War started in 1914. The council owned land was requisitioned by the War Department as a vast munitions factory. Up to 6000, mostly women, were employed making 70,000 explosive shells and bombs a week. It was dangerous work which would be repeated in the Second World War. They became know as ‘The Canaries’ because a particular substance in the explosives turned their skin yellow.

In the 1970’s the council regained control of the land and began developing it as an industrial estate. Now, the newly formed Skylon Park Enterprise Zone is the latest chapter in the centuries old Rotherwas story

It aims to attract new technology businesses. Hereford is the headquarters of the 22 Special Air Services Regiment,

one of the best trained military forces in the world and the Enterprise Zone is targeting firms involved in the modern defence industries who could benefit from the skills and experience of the SAS.

More importantly, the directors of Skylon are designing a complex of modern factories set within wooded glades and creating a series of wildlife corridors. Hereford in Bloom is to plant a special peaceful Grove of Trees to commemorate the start of the First World War a century ago.

But the most exciting plan is to convert one of the few remaining original sheds used to fill shells as the centerpiece of a new Heritage Park, a ‘living museum’ of the dangerous work undertaken by thousands of women in two world wars to make the munitions which would eventually give Victory to Britain. It will be a fitting memorial to their bravery; a reminder of the past and a vision for the future of this once great family estate which hosted a King; an opportunity for the public to learn about one vital aspect of war; an important educational facility for schools; a link with today’s fast moving technological industries. Above all, this visionary project gives us the opportunity to recreate some of the wonderful parkland scenes surrounding the long gone Rotherwas mansion which so delighted King James 1.

As part of its on-going work to enhance the local environment, Hereford in Bloom is working closely with the Board of the Enterprise Zone and sincerely believes that this once in a life-time Rotherwas Project is one which will be of great benefit to the city. There can be few sites in the whole of Britain that has lived through both tranquility and sheer horror. Maintaining just a part of this unique footprint for future generations is a just cause. Especially in the year the nation commemorates the start of the First World War.

Planting strategy

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ST JAMES’ NEIGHBOURHOOD

Residents in St James part of the city take a very keen interest in their local environment and earlier this year planted a large number of trees in containers along the pavements.


SOUTH WYE AMATEUR GARDENERSIn third place, and a £200 prize was South Wye Amateur Gardeners who teamed up with the Girl Guides and Brownies to plant thousands of spring bulbs in several locations, creating a splash of spring colour to brighten up the area.

The Gardeners group is now embarking on an exciting new project to create a community garden in the grounds of the newly opened Saxon Hall community centre. They already meet one evening a week to work on a new herb garden and helped with the planting of a small orchard at the centre.Judges comment: A real community exercise, involving young and older people.


AYLESTONE PARK ASSOCIATIONAylestone Park is a work in progress depending very much on funds available to continue developing this 47 acre council owned site which has the old Gloucester to Hereford canal, itself under restoration by Canal Trust volunteers, running along one boundary. Aylestone Park Association is helping the project along with its volunteers pruning the apple and pear trees in a new orchard, carrying out general repairs and building a foundation for a Fields in Trust plaque to be erected. The latest addition to the park is a children’s playground. The park already has a conservation area created by volunteers, and a novel ‘trim’ trail for keep fit enthusiasts. The Canal Trust is currently building a slipway to allow boat access to the water.

FOOTNOTEA large entry in the Neighbourhood category well illustrates the vibrancy of community participation here in Hereford, a city of 65,000; an indicator that the city and its people are mapping out for themselves a bright and healthy future. It’s a trend Hereford in Bloom is committed to encouraging.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENTThis is the first year HIB has worked alongside Balfour Beatty Living Places who replaced Amey as Herefordshire Council contractors for a wide range of services, including those HIB is directly concerned with, such as planting and maintenance of flower beds, roundabouts, grass cutting, parks and street cleaning. It has entailed building relationships with a new management team, but most critically understanding the dynamics of the severe financial constraints imposed on the team by Herefordshire Council. Not only did the council withdraw the budget for planting flower beds, a situation HIB was financially capable of resolving, but grass cutting was reduced from seven times a year to three. Whilst Balfour Beatty continue to do their very best to fulfill our requests to maintain the highest possible standard affecting the environmental and visual impact on the city streetscape, we along with all other towns in England will have to re-assess priorities and how we prepare for the Britain in Bloom judging in the future

17

Old stone cider mills are a unique feature of Hereford, the largest cider making centre in the world. So when one of them fell into total disrepair Hereford in Bloom stepped in with a rescue plan.The wreck was on the edge of Widemarsh Common, close to Cargill poultry factory and they were asked to help. The company saw the restoration project as a challenge for one of their engineering apprentices, Tom Jones and soon the centuries old derelict stone press, once used to crush the cider apples, was fully restored and once again a proud feature next to the Common. Well done, Tom. You did a grand job. Another good example of partnership working which is the hallmark of Hereford in Bloom’s working practice.

Cider has been made in Herefordshire for centuries, its landscape dotted with over 10,000 acres of cider apple trees, snowy white in Spring blossom and laden with brightly coloured fruit in Autumn.Today the county has some 40

BEFORE…

WRECKED CIDER PRESS RESTORED

…AND AFTER

small craft cider makers and Hereford is the home of Bulmers, founded in 1887 and now the largest cider maker in the world. The traditional stone presses, which every farm making its own drop of cider, would have used, were replaced by modern hydraulic presses decades ago and nowadays Hereford In Bloom sees them as a special feature of the city. The group recently rescued one which was at risk from road widening and arranged for it to be re-located on the nearby Edgar Street roundabout, and previously rescued one from a farmyard and rebuilt it as a centerpiece of a ‘cider garden’ close to Hereford Cider Museum.

Laurie Lee, author of the classic, ‘Cider with Rosie’ described the drink in the book in the following evocative words:

‘Never to be forgotten, that first long secret drink of golden fire, juice of those valleys and of that time, wine of wold orchards, of russet summer, of plump red apples, and Rose’s burning cheeks. Never to be forgotten, or ever tasted again….’

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BEFORE…

HEREFORD BLENDS THE OLD WITH THE NEW

Hereford Livestock Market, just a few minutes walk from the historic city centre, served the farming community well for 150 years. But it no longer met the needs of modern farming – and the huge number of lorries and trailers on market day clogged up the flow of traffic So a decade or more ago the decision was taken to move the market to a new site out of town and redevelop the old market as a shopping and leisure complex. Things don’t move very fast in these parts, but after years of wrangling it has all finally happened. The new livestock market is thriving, selling more animals than ever and the Old Market shops, multi-screen cinema and restaurants opened in April. is winning lots of public plaudits. One million people visited in the first two months There were fears that the complex would steal trade from the existing traders, but surveys show the opposite is true and the £90m redevelopment is actually helping to revitalize shopping trends throughout the city.

Hereford in Bloom held early talks with the developers about landscaping and are delighted with the results so far, and have been assured flower planters will be a feature of the site next spring and summer. The car park area is well dotted with trees and natural hedging is used on the boundary. The boundary alongside the main A49 road is grassed and full of trees and shrubs. Previously New Market Street, which borders the southern edge of the complex, was divided by a gruesome looking concrete barrier. Now, the

ugly structures have been replaced with trees creating an environmentally friendly boulevard - and a natural link between the historic city centre and its 21st century neighbour. However, one piece of history remains. The 18th century Market Tavern, much loved in the old days by farmers selling their stock, has been restored and is now a trendy pizza restaurant with a beer garden as a green oasis.

…AND AFTER

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WHAT THE MEDIA SAYS ABOUT HEREFORD IN BLOOM

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HEREFORD IN BLOOM ACKNOWLEDGES THE SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL MEDIA IN PROMOTING ITS WORK TO THE PUBLIC

QualitySolicitorsGordonLutton


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HEREFORD IN BLOOMPORTFOLIO 2013

The Britain in Bloom competition was launched nationally in 1964 so this year marks its Golden Jubilee anniversary. The competition is organised at a national level by the Royal Horticultural Society and

regionally by Heart of England in Bloom. Hereford in Bloom is proud to be part of this great national institution.

WITH THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

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