Blooming Yeovil
The new Yeovil Town Council Estates team has been hard at work in St Johns church, preparing for the judges arrival for Yeovil in Bloom on 9 July.
Following devolution from Somerset Council, the newly created team is managed by Katy Menday - Director of Leisure and Environment, with Estates Manager Adam Butcher, plus three Estates Officers and new Parks Engagement Officer Sue Wheeler.
With the help of country park rangers from Yeovil Country Park and the Gardeners, the spring bulbs were stripped out of St Johns and the beds filled with structural foliage plants (reused from previous years) and underplanted with a combination of sunflowers grown by the gardeners, and supplemented by plants from a local nursery using peat free soil and reusing pots.
The gardens situated in the very centre of town are well used by workers and shoppers alike, and provide a green sanctuary from the urban environment with birds and insects, including butterflies and bees. The church tower hosts a pair of nesting peregrine falcons who provide natural pigeon control and can be seen and heard most days.
Yeovil has previously done very well in its entries into this national competition run by the RHS, It not only encourages towns to showcase the formal planting schemes they have, but also demonstrates they have taken measures to integrate the local community and provide environmental improvements in their wider open spaces. It's a competition which if won, will bring a lot of awareness to the town.
As part of the entry, the town offers schools, residents and businesses the opportunity to voluntarily enter ‘Its Your Neighbourhood’ or ‘Its Your School’. Whilst not competitive these entrants get professional support to improve their local patch of land or garden, and a grading of up to 5 stars. This gives a network of small urban green spaces - pockets of biodiversity for wildlife and people and contributes to wellbeing and community.
In Bloom judging categories include plant selection and quality, natural environmental pest control, sense of pride, forward planning and educational awareness, it’s not just as simple as how the parks and open spaces look. Management and awareness of good environmental practice and expansion of previous efforts, combined with involvement from surrounding communities are a large percentage of the overall points.
Looking forward, the team anticipate more environmentally sensitive land management and community engagement for the green spaces and parks, which will further support subsequent entries.
Meanwhile, the Estates team are busy, management plans are being written, park assessments are being undertaken, and links to local community groups are expanded. By utilising previous resources and knowledge inherited from Somerset Council combined with new ways of working and new investment in machinery, sustainability and community benefit, it's hoped that Yeovil will become an In Bloom winner and exemplar of good practice, as well as a thriving community with strong environmental responsibility for both its residents and employees.
After In Bloom has taken place, focus will turn to Love Parks week 2025 from 25 July where a range of engagement activities will take place.