The volunteers at Edwinstowe in Bloom (EiB) have been hard at work planting bulbs and plug plants purchased from Boston Seeds and Naturescape, using the grant from Edwinstowe Parish Council Community Fund. Planting has already taken place along Swinecote Road, various locations on Mansfield Road, as well as in Linda’s Meadow and the Brownie Patch. Further planting is now underway on Ollerton Road, Thoresby Vale, and in planters and the allotment. The remaining funds from the grant allowed for additional seeds, which have been sown in Linda’s Meadow and other seeded areas around the village.
An experimental area in Linda’s Meadow was partially uncovered, where plastic sheeting had been laid to control weeds. The team was delighted by the results, noting how effectively the membrane had suppressed vegetation and improved soil conditions. Only a few resilient thistles remained, leaving a mostly clear seedbed ready for sowing.
At the allotment, volunteers started a new experimental ‘no-dig bed’ by laying down a layer of thoroughly soaked cardboard, topped with wool packaging and fresh compost from the uncovered compost bin.
St Mary’s School recently visited the allotment, where the children took home around half of the ripe pumpkins, with the rest going to the cricket club for a kids’ event. The children enjoyed exploring the allotment, seeing plants in different stages of growth, and were given bean seeds and tomatoes to take home. It was a fun day, and EiB hopes to host more events with the school next year.
The EiB Presentation Evening took place on Saturday 16th November at 6.30pm at the cricket club, with a well-attended gathering and open bar. It was a joyful evening celebrating EiB’s numerous achievements, made possible by the efforts of all involved.
Remember to mark Thursday 28th November in your diary for the Christmas Tree Festival, held during the Christmas Light Switch-On at St Mary’s Church. Details will be shared on social media and the EiB Facebook page. EiB will be submitting an entry, so please go along to support and see the magnificent displays this event attracts.
In the EiB Photography Competition, the September winner was ‘Local Countryside’ by Vicky Latham. This photo, along with 11 other winning entries from earlier months, is featured in the 2025 calendar, now available for purchase. Entries for the October competition are currently under review, with the winning photograph to be the first entry in the 2026 calendar. Amateur photographers over 16 are encouraged to participate by submitting their monthly photos of the Edwinstowe area in .jpg format to the email below. Full terms and conditions are available on the EiB Facebook page.
As this is the final edition before Christmas, Edwinstowe in Bloom would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and all the best for 2025.
To contact EiB, email eib@btinternet.com. For more information, search ‘Edwinstowe in Bloom’ on Facebook.