Members of Wellington in Bloom, the police and Knightstone Housing Association have already made sure that the town is ready for spring by planting dozens of daffodil bulbs on the new Longforth Farm roundabout.
On a day when most people would choose to be inside, the group got down to muddy business in a coordinated and worthy effort. Avon and Somerset Police Community Support Officers Pearl Hine and Natasha Shattock joined forces with Knightstone’s Shona Store, WiB Chairman Isabel Ward and members of her committee. Plans for children from Knightstone’s Dreamscheme from the Westford Grange estate to join in the planting were prevented by bad weather.
PCSO Pearl Hine explained: “We’ve encouraged children from the area to be involved in community projects like this to give them a sense of their ownership of the town. Other schemes such as improving the playground in Rockwell Green and planting flowers have worked in reducing vandalism.”
One youngster who was involved despite the rain was Rose Evans who joined her Mum, Niki, in planting bulbs. Niki is one of several new volunteers who have come forward to join the WiB group after its future was threatened by falling involvement earlier this year. Isabel Ward said, “I’m very pleased indeed that we’ve been able to continue and plan to have a ‘Welcome’ evening in January.”
WiB volunteers have recently completed the refurbishment of sleeper beds in Priory and Fore Street, been rewarded with a Green Flag for excellence for work on the Swains Lane Nature Reserve, organised competitions for schoolchildren – such as the Halloween Pumpkin Competition at the Basins – and will be involved in the Celebration of Light at the Quaker Meeting House this Christmas.
