Cranbrook in Bloom 2013 Dedicated to a Colourful Cranbrook

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1 Cranbrook in Bloom 2013 Dedicated to a Colourful Cranbrook To promote community spirit, social inclusion, and improved opportunities for everyone to fully engage in enhancing Cranbrook Town Centre and various green areas around Cranbrook with planting and maintaining of flowers and shrubs. With the aim to improve the cultural life of the community with the object of improving the quality of life for people who live and work in Cranbrook and surrounding areas.

2 Horticulture Left: Replanting in the High Street Right: Cranbrook Scouts and Cubs planting in the High Street In October we re-planted the 50 troughs with 520 Pansies, 200 Primulas and 500 Bulbs. Daffodils and crocus. The primulas are over summered and reused every year. Replaced and re-planted the hop box. Weeding the roundabout Outreach Gardening Group planted 200 spring bulbs (supplied by Cranbrook in Bloom) in the Church Yard. In November a community tree planting day was held to plant the first of 3000 whips to create Jubilee Wood to mark the Queen s diamond jubilee. An ongoing local project to create extra woodland. (Woodland Trust). The Wilsley Pound round-a-bout on the A229/A262 is once again an eye-catching achievement. We continue to tend, tidy and weed throughout the year. The communal herb box outside the W.I.C. has again been well used by local gastronomics, David and Joe (local residents who maintain it) have given the box and contents a re-vamp this spring, as it was getting a bit unruly. Hartley Dyke, is a local Business Area that includes a Farm Shop, Fishmongers, Care Company and Nursery School. The whole area is attractive and cared for. The Union Mill (Windmill) has been involved with the In Bloom campaign this year, appreciating the impact of floral displays.

3 Replacing the pinch-point troughs Cranbrook Museum is also an important Tourist Attraction and the volunteers have been very keen to promote their property and gardens this year. Businesses within the Town support the In Bloom campaign by making financial donations (approx ) and watering/dead-heading when necessary. Approx 30 clubs, schools, businesses and voluntary groups are actively involved in our activities. During the year over 3,300 plants have been planted. Including bulbs in the Church Yard, Grass Verges and adopted areas of the Town and the summer plants. We have used a slightly different summer planting scheme this year in our troughs. We are also looking at quality above quantity and being more considerate of positioning. Drought tolerant geraniums and begonias in the main streets. Together with Bacopa, Dichondra, Calibrachoa and Euphorbia. Plants were sourced from a local independent nursery that specialises in geraniums. Bold planting at the Market Cross (Weald Information Centre). Over 50 newly painted troughs. The 4 Pinch Point troughs outside the supermarket entrance/exit are new this year. Our annual front garden competition will be judged week commencing 8th July. We usually attract entries and the results and certificates will be announced and presented at out Thank You evening in Sept/Oct. We also have a business premises competition, including pubs and restaurants.

4 Environmental Responsibility Summer pond-dipping The Library Pond The Library Pond was adopted by Cranbrook in Bloom. Together with Kent High Weald Partnership we arrange Pond Dipping Days at the pond. There were 2 sessions in August 2012 and another arranged for August No pond-dipping today! The sessions are normally attended by approx. 10/15 children, but adults are also welcome.

5 Cranbrook in Bloom volunteers clear rubbish and debris as necessary, and we arrange for the Reed Mace to be professionally cleared when needed. Snowdrops and crocus Left: Cubs preparing for a bonfire at Forge Orchard Right: Hedge cutting at Forge Orchard Forge Orchard Forge Orchard was adopted by Cranbrook in Bloom, and we have activity days for children 2/3 times a year. Cranbrook Cubs and Beavers and Scouts also hold activities in the Orchard, using the educational pack available. The educational pack is available online for schools etc to use. October 2012,following some inside information, an excavation at the orchard was arranged. We found the original Forge Foundations. Crane Valley Crane Valley is an amazing area of outstanding natural beauty and is well maintained by Kent High Weald Partnership and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. The surrounding area, which includes children s play equipment, is kept clean and tidy by Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council and Ivor the Parish Warden. Cranbrook has the privilege of several re-cycling containers in the Regal Car Park and also a weekly visit by a mobile lorry taking other household refuse, too big for household bins.

6 Cranbrook Primary School and the Parish Council litter-picking in the Crane Valley We removed only a thin layer of compost from the troughs, in the spring this year. Previously we have replaced the whole amount but after considering the cost and benefits we decided we only needed about 6 inches of fresh (peat free) compost with water retaining gel and slow releasing fertilizer. Cranbrook has a very conscientious band of litter pickers. 365 days a year!! Certain Cranbrook residents cannot pass by a piece of litter. We do acknowledge and appreciate these efforts along with the Cleaning Contractors. Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council arrange and support at least 2 Town Litter Picks every year and pupils from Cranbrook Primary School assisted the last event. Rotary Club also do a litter pick at least once a year. The litterbins are regularly emptied every day and the roads and Cory Environmental, with whom we have a good relationship, sweeps pavements 5 days a week. They also empty the waste bins in the play areas. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Kent County Council are always very supportive and prompt with any fly tipping or graffiti issues, in and around the Town. Kirsty our Community Support Officer and our Parish Clerks, act immediately, to deal with any environmental problems.

7 Community Participation Cranbrook presentation evening 21 st September 2012 we held our annual Thank You evening. Over 120 people who had contributed over the year to our In Bloom efforts attended it. The Mayor of Tunbridge Wells presented the awards and thanked everyone involved. Left: Picking apples for the Craft and Apple Fair Right: Preparing apples for juicing at the Craft and Apple Fair 16 th October 2012 The apples used for pressing were picked by volunteers from a local orchard, kindly donated by the farmer. Forge Orchard only produced 10 apples. Left: Searching for the foundations of the forge at Forge Orchard Right: Replacing the hop box in Stone Street 24 th October 2012 Forge Orchard Foundations were found and recorded by locals residents and members from the museum

8 Volunteers planting whips to create the new Jubilee wood 27 th October 2012 Cranbrooks Annual Apple and Craft Fair. We raised by organising and running the Craft Fair,Tombola, Apple Pressing demonstration and sale of home made toffee apples. (Apples donated by Co-operative supermarket and farmer) Members of the High Weald Academy Gardening group helped C.I.B. pressing apples. 29 th October 2012 Cranbrook in Bloom actively involved in `Showcasing Cranbrook` for potential tourist visits. Light lunch provided by Cranbrook in Bloom at the Museum 24 th November 2012 Fifty volunteers planting whips to create Jubilee wood. Cranbrook Cadets mixing compost, john innes fertiliser and gel 17 th March 2013 Volunteers weeded the round-a-bout. 17 th April 2013 Website goes live. Our Website was built and will be hosted free of charge by Kevin Warman and Lance French. 16 th May 2013 Army Cadets mixed together 40 bags of compost, 20 bags john innes water retaining gel and fertilizer. Ready for re-planting on 2nd June.

9 23 rd May 2013 Summer planting of troughs by C.I.B. members 19 th June 2013 Crane Valley volunteer day removal of invasive greater horsetail 23 rd June 2013 Cranbrook s Garden Safari. 14 Gardens plus allotments, museum and Windmill all open for the day. Our main money making event. ( 1, in 2012). 30 th June 2013 Family Fun Day. Plant Sale and Tombola to support funds. 8 th July 2013 Front Garden Competition. (Normally entries). We have received grants and donations from Cranbrook Business Association, ( ) Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council ( 1,700.00) Rotary Club ( ), a donation pot in the local newsagents. Sponsorship in the form of assistance and discount; Travis Perkins, Staplehurst Nurseries, Charity Farm Country Store. Voluntary hours by Cranbrook in Bloom and all other volunteers. Approx. 1,800 Clubs, groups and societies involved: Army Cadets Cranbrook Scouts and Cubs Cranbrook Guides Cranbrook Primary School Rainbow Pre-School High Weald Academy Gardening Outreach Spadework Cranbrook Parish Warden Community Officer Cranbrook Museum Cranbrook Union Mill Kent High Weald Partnership Oliver Budd-Mosaic Artist Mountshill Woodcraft Hallwood Farm St Dunstans Church Congregational Church Cranbrook and Weald Tourism and Economic Forum Gardening outreach group receiving their certificates from the Mayor Rainbow Pre- School has ` adopted` the trough outside Hammond Opticians and decorate it at special times of the year. i.e. Easter and Christmas. Gardening Outreach lads have adopted 3 troughs in Stone Street. They plant them up a keep an eye on them. We have encouraged Cranbrook Primary School to participate in the South & South East in Bloom Schools competition this year. We held a meeting with and have advised Angie on the Goudhurst in Bloom entry, this year.

10 Conclusions and Future Developments The Town Around the town we will continue planting the verges, the entrances to the town and the churchyard as well as enhancing the Crane Valley. The important cycle of renewing the tubs with seasonal plants and retaining the perennials for re-cycling. The very popular Safari is already in hand for next year as is the Craft Fair. Forge Orchard This project will be ongoing for a few years. We plan to identify and label the fruit trees, which are very old. Hold another successful Apple Fair in town. Making pies and chutney for sale. Sending apples to be juiced and bottled with a Bloom label. Continue encouraging its use as an educational centre. Continue with horticultural advancement of verges, woodland and public areas. Continue to promote the town, working with the Tourism Forum. Conclusion Cranbrook in Bloom members, together with the many community groups and individuals will continue to be proud of their town by enhancing it with more areas of planting with flowers and trees. There has been much praise for the work already done and we feel that such an attractive town deserves to look at its best florally all the year round. It not only brightens the town for residents but also for the many visitors who come from all over the world.

11 Income Craft Fair Cranbrook Business Association Safari Cranbrook Parish Council Rotary Club Linda s pot Fred s Easter Egg Hunt

12 Events in Date Order 2012/ th August 2012 Pond Dipping with KHWP 15 th August Organising our presentation evening printing certificates 30 th August Pond Dipping with KHWP 13 th September Awards Ceremony in Fareham 21 st September Presentation evening 25 th September committee meeting 26 th September Visit to Forge Orchard seeking original foundations 26 th September Gardening outreach bulb planting in churchyard. October Web site update October Winter planting in High Street 16 th October Picking apples at Nigel s farm for Apple Fair 24 th October Visit to Forge Orchard seeking original foundations 26 th October Toffee apple making and tombola preparing 27 th October History Apple and Craft Fair 29 th October Show case Cranbrook CWTEF & Parish Council 5 th November Apple cuttings taken 7 th November add crocus to boxes and planting up 8 th November Planting out for Kevin Richard and Mark gardening outreach. 22 nd November meeting of CWTEF 24 th November whip planting at Barnets Wood The Freight 8 th January 2013 contact pond man for removing reed mace January Cutting hedges at Forge Orchard 1 st February AGM Cranbrook in Bloom 6 th February Organising CIB events 7 th February Telegraph to offer 2 for 1 offer at Cranbrook Safari 19 th February setting up Cranbrook in Bloom 21 st February Clearing hedge cuttings from verges. 6 th March Seminar at Marlowe Theatre Canterbury 17 th March Weeding roundabout 19 th March sub committee meeting about summer planting 27 th March web site setting up meeting. 4 th April Checking roundabout for winter damage 16 th April Reed mace clearing at library pond 17 th April Web site meeting 19 th April CiB committee meeting 27 th April Repairing frost and finger damage at mosaic seat. 13 th May CiB committee meeting 15 th May Delivery of compost at Cadets Hall for mixing 23 rd May Emptying the troughs ready for summer planting 25 th May Transferring the polyanthus for over summering until autumn 30 th May Removing winter plants and replacing compost in the troughs 2 nd June Replanting troughs with summer plants 17 th June CiB committee meeting 19 th June Crane Valley removing invasive greater horsetail 23 rd June Garden safari 14 gardens plus Museum, Windmill, Forge Orchard and the Allotments and NGS garden. 30 th June Fun day and plant tombola 8 th July Front Garden competition.

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