Muthill In Bloom A Snapshot of Our Year

Transcription

1 Muthill In Bloom A Snapshot of Our Year

2 Introduction Welcome To Muthill In Bloom The ancient village of Muthill was founded by Culdee Monks, and was once an important religious centre. Given its historical and architectural interest, many of the properties are listed. The nearby Drummond Castle Selecting Plants for Displays at Pentland Plants Muthill In Bloom has experienced another hectic year, encompassing many members of this rural community. Galvanised by years of successes in national and local competitions, the group continues to go from strength to strength with Hallowe en events, bulb plantings, guerilla gardening, refurbishments to containers, plant sales, coffee mornings, activity days with school children, local Young Farmers Clubs to name but a few activities. Continually inspired by new ideas and projects, giants have arrived in Muthill, as have pallet gardens and a new school polytunnel. Scarecrow week continues to be popular and an application is underway to attract funding from the NHS innovation fund for the installation of an outdoor gym at Coronation Park. Wee Bloomers working away Residents of Wardside House Craft Class Knit Bees Planting for wildlife continues to be a priority for Muthill In Bloom, as does maintaining Muthill as being a phenomenal little village, as described by an Australian visitor to Muthill in 2016, inspiring them to create their own scarecrow week in Queensland, Australia. The theme of Birds, Bees and Trees has been embraced by Muthill In Bloom, with the knitting of over 500 bees, by Wardside House Craft Class and other contributors, including Comrie In Colour. 2

3 Horticultural Excellence September 2016 Our horticultural excellence is recognized with another Gold Medal Certificate and Category Winner in the Best Village category in the Take A Pride In Perthshire Awards, hot on the hoes of a Silver Gilt award at the Beautiful Scotland awards ceremony. We were also invited to plant up the cart at the Barley Bree which is an award winning restaurant in Muthill. We continued to water all the installations. Bulb planting also began with daffodils at the Pre School nursery. Muthill PS received its 5th green flag, and we were delighted that Julie has Become the Bloom group liaison with Muthill Primary School, with plans to Darwin Tulips at the War Memorial maintained by Muthill In Bloom an order of 2500 was placed and planted around the village. get another School Group up and running over the next year. Muthill Parish Church were also awarded a grant to create a garden with the them Noah and The Ark. October 2016 Our order of 2500 tulip Bulbs arrived. We collected fallen acorns from around the village, being the Year Of The Child, these will be planted with the theme Large Oaks from Little Acorns grow. The tunnel became a hive Tulip Planting using recycled pipe of activity with out Wee Bloomers carving some fantastic pumpkins for a Hallowe en event at Drummond Castle. The children helped bring baskets in for Winter and helped clean bulbs in the sanctuary of the polytunnel, Muthill s engine room! The school set up its new gardening club with the first 100 raised towards the dream of a new polytunnel to replace the aging bottle green house. A brilliant Halloween was had at Drummond Castle, with scarecrows, witches and Plug plants have arrived! tombstones prepared by the children. The Monday club planted up Spring window boxes for the Village Hall. November 2016 Fuschias and begonias to be overwintered at Drummond Castle. The children helped clear stret furniture and clean bulbs. The War Meemorial is power washed, bulbed and replanted in time for Remembrance Day. More bulbs were planted outside the school with our new School gardening group. Harry ( aged 5 ) helped plant up the tubs in Drummond Street finding Harry Junior, the worm. The beavers made window boxes for the hall from pallets so went to help fill them with bulbs. The school entered the Gardening Scotland MUTHILL IN BLOOM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF 67 Hanging Baskets 2017 pallet garden competition. December 2016 Out on the 29th of December planting the last of the bulbs. January 2017 Decided to create a Sleeping Giant in the Highlandman s Park. Our main sponsor, MAM, has kindly offered use of all the ground moving equipment required. February 2017 We visited Comrie In Colour s polytunnel at Cultybraggan to give some of the school mums an idea of life in a polytunnel. 32 Containers The War Memorial The Millenium Garden 146 items of street furniture/planters The Corner Bed and Diamond Bed in Highlandman Park The Evolving Giants Tables in Sandy Park Apple Trees and the Guerilla Patch 3

4 Horticultural Excellence March 2017 Started sowing seeds of xxxxxx. We also visited Brig In Bloom for more horticultural espionage! The wee bloomers went out for a spot of Guerilla gardening sowing xxx seeds on a neglected banking, using their new gardening tools for the first time. When asked if the seeds they were sowing were for the bees No, they re for honey! April 2017 School gardening group started on Thursdays after school. All pupils were invited up to Drummond Castle gardens, each child planted up a sunflower seed to tie in with our Summer competition and a pumpkin seed. The wee bloomers planted up veggies at the tunnel in a pallet also planted a planter with pineberries which are strawberries which taste like pineapple and companion planted with bee friendly borage. All plants have now been pricked out in the polytunnel no space! 20 children now attending the school gardening group each week. When asked what they would like to grow the most popular suggestions are fruit and veg! May 2017 made a start to Summer displays. The Scouts invited us down to join them Tree Planting along the Phase 1 Muthill to Crieff cycleway. A continual round of planting, watering, strimming etc etc. June 2017 All street containers cleared and ready to be planted. Display at front of Muthill PS planted up to celebrate HRH Queen Elizabeth II Sapphire Jubilee. Scarecrow week and watering started in earnest. Planting, weeding and strimming. July 2017 getting quotes etc for succulents etc for giants. Plans ahead to work with Drummond Castle Gardens to create a Wee Bloomers Orchard - a tree of chosen colour for each of the children who have worked so hard throughout this year. 4

5 Environmental Responsibility Throughout Muthill there are numerous examples of upcycling, such as the use of old water pipes, oil drums and even bedsteads. These make attractive planters. Upcycled pallets have also been used to create window boxes at the hall. Sadly, our bottle green house has come to its natural end, but this has been replaced with a polytunnel which will be used by the Muthill Primary School children. Muthill Primary School continues to hold its Green Flag in reflection of their environmental credentials. We also received a letter from Pre School for helping them towards. The society was impressed with their community links. Muthill PS pupils have also collected acorns and hope to grow on. Local wood has been donated by local Drummond Castle for refurbishing the pergola in the school playground, saving on food miles. Although we create our own compost, we have also been gifted compost by one of our local sponsors, MAM. Our millennium garden features bug hotels and we strive to create planting areas with sustainable planting. Watering of planters etc is undertaken by the use of a buggy and bowser which creates efficiencies in the environment. Muthill is surrounded by core paths and cycle routes, encouraging healthy transportation and reduction of the use of motor cars. Muthill was designated as a conservation area in

6 Environmental Responsibility Many properties within Muthill are listed buildings. Muthill takes great pride in its environment reflected in the fact that we never need to do litterpicks! Wildflower areas featuring pollinators have also been extended. New features such as the sleeping giants have a low environmental impact and the very successful scarecrow week makes a major impact with recycled products. This iconic tree has been braced to protect its longer term survival 6

7 Community Participation October 2016 Village Store flower pot collected in change, 5p from bag tax. Some of the scarecrows goon tour to Drumond Castle for Hallowe en bash the polytunnel looks like a witches coven! Hallowe en arrives at last, with a brilliant day at Drummond Castle. The guys set up the Woodland Walk with scarecorws, witches, tombstones etc. One of the mildest Hallowe ens on record. November 2016 Julie at a meeting at Dobbies for help with proposed School Gardening group. Beavers made window boxes for hall. Everyone in tea making dog biscuits for new school gardening group to sell on their stall at Dobbies Christmas Ladies Night December 2016 Rebecca asks if she can join us to do her Duke of Edinburgh Service Award. We are delighted as this is he second participant we ve had. The School Gardening Club were interviewed by Radio Tay for wake up with Webster - their fund already raised in excess of 800. We joined Muthill and Tullibardine Community Council for the switching on of the Village Christmas Tree Lights. Serving mulled wine and mince pies donated by the Barley Bree. Our Christmas Post delivery service raised 60+ and will be donated to the new School Gardening Group. Made ourselves a 2017 calendar we may discuss doing a village one next year. January 2017 We received a call from Drummond Castle to say permission had been given for Teddy Bear s Picnic in the Summer he wee bloomers are bery excited! Eildh Robertson, a Primary 4 pupil, decided to undertake a 26 mile challenge to raise funds for a school polytunnel. Arranged a Bingo tea to raise funds. February 2017 Beautiful Scotland magazine ran the story of Eildh s 26 mile challenge. Eildh s challenge Coffee Morning raised 810. Set local challenge for everyone to knot bumble bees and have kindly been donated a bee hive too. Eildh completed her 26 mile marathon, running, cycling and horseriding what a girl! Almost 3K in total and the new polytunnel is a reality. Strathearn Young Farmers agreed to a work day to help us create our Sleeping Giant. We arranged for Community Payback to replace the wiooden pergola in the playground. March 2017 Visited Brig In Bloom polytunnel for more insider info! Local Press featured Bumble Bee story. April 2017 New bloom group set up in Powmill, all out sweeping and tidying up as I drove through so stopped and offered some encouragement. Strathearn Young Farmers rolled in to town to create a giant and made 2! The Committee fed and watered them wheelbarrows and spades everywere a fantastic day. Meeting with school Inspectors as Bloom classed a partner. May 2016 Coffee Morning raised approx Scouts invited us to join them tree planting at the new phase 1 Muthill to Cireff cycleway. Popped up to Comrie In Colour coffee, am our wee bloomers came too they just love cake. July 2017 Plans ahead to work with Drummond Castle Gardens to create a Wee Bloomers Orchard. Going up to Drummond Castle to help with a Teddy Bears Picnic for Year of the Teddy Bear the wee bloomers are very excited. 7

8 Community Participation Our Partners in 2017 Mo nda yc lub ng nti Pre Pla ulb B l oo Sch Beavers do Bulb Planting Strathearn YFC making the monsters 8

9 Future Plans Muthill In Bloom has a great track record of consistent successes and it is our wish to sustain such successes. This year we have truly galvanised the energies of all ages, and it is our intention to further build on this intergenerational activity. We have further plans for an orchard and to continue to work with the iconic Drummond Castle Gardens who donate their time, products and expertise. The Teddy Bear s Picnic and Hallowe en event have exceeded expectations and we look forward to growing these events. We look forward to the establishment of our gentle giants to watch over the activities of the Bloom group and also to the educational and nutritional value of the new polytunnel at Muthill PS in terms of growing their own produce. We also look forward to seeking funding for the first outdoor adult gym equipment in Perth and Kinross which will enable our adults to supervise their children at play and gain their own health benefits. Muthill In Bloom 2016 to 2017 Our Year Of The Child In Memory of four very dear friends that we have sadly lost in this last year...helen, Davy, Alan and Helen...gone but still in our thoughts. Muthill In Bloom Committee 9

10 Finance Income Sources - Muthill In Bloom Crieff Round Table 2% PKC Admin grant 2% Xmas Post 2% Coffee Morning 10% Treasurer's Account Balance 8% MAM 8% Donations 2% Beautiful Scotland 4% McDermott 6% PKC Grants Direct 32% Gala Committee 2% Ferguson Coal 1% T In The Park 3% Floral Art Demo 18% 10