Halesworth in Bloom is going for gold in Anglia in Bloom!

Thanks to a truly amazing, community wide effort, Halesworth has a great opportunity to aim at winning an Anglia in Bloom Gold Award by impressing the judges on Tuesday 15 July 2014.

Tamsyn Imison is the Coordinator of Halesworth’s Anglia in Bloom bid. She said: “Halesworth in Bloom has brought the whole community together and we are really excited about our small town. Halesworth is a place to be very proud of.”

Tamsyn is encouraging the town’s residents and traders to put on a good show for the judges. She said: “The town entered Anglia in Bloom for the first time in 2013 and won a silver gilt award as well as an award for best new entry. We have every chance of winning gold in 2014, so on Tuesday 15 July let’s show the judges what Halesworth is made of.”

The judges arrive at 10am and will be in the town for two and a half hours. Hammonds Motors are providing transport and a welcome. If it is sunny – which of course it will be! – the judges will be treated to a ride in Linda Gray’s Vintage Rover and buggy transport across Millennium Green.

Halesworth’s glorious Millennium Green © Robert Le Rougetel

The judges will visit a range of Halesworth in Bloom projects that have been put forward for special awards: Woottens of Wenhaston’s bee friendly, drought resistant roundabouts, Halesworth Lakes and the rare trees planted there, United Reformed Church Community Gardens, the Thoroughfare and all the wonderful floral entrances to the local businesses, Nolly’s Allotment (in continuous cultivation for more than 40 years), Beech House Residential Home Gardens, Millennium Green and Halesworth Brownies Bee Friendly Project.

Pupils at Edgar Sewter School are Growing For It! © Tamsyn Imison

Also entered for a special award is The Hooker Trail in Halesworth, a booklet and walking tour. The booklet tells the story of Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) and his son Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817-1911), both world famous botanists and past residents of Halesworth. The booklet includes a town trail of places in Halesworth connected with the Hooker family.

Tamsyn and Michael Imison spread the word about Halesworth in Bloom in the Thoroughfare © Robert Le Rougetel

Christopher Mills is Head of Library, Art and Archive at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He said: “The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is pleased to support Halesworth in celebrating two of its former residents who were also two of Kew’s illustrious Directors. These two important botanists, like Halesworth, deserve to be much better known and appreciated.”

The judges will see Halesworth Memorial Gardens and the Hooker Arboretum, Halesworth Market Place and businesses and Tilly’s Garden, Halesworth Library with the Halesworth In Transition Community Herb Bed, the Library Garden and the Halesworth in Bloom Exhibition.

Also on the judges’ itinerary is a visit to World Land Trust art gallery, which is holding an exhibition about William and Joseph Hooker, with works loaned by the Linnean Society of London. John Burton is Chief Executive of World Land Trust. He said: “Halesworth in Bloom is an excellent community initiative and we are delighted to be able to celebrate it with a commemorative display about William and Joseph Hooker at World Land Trust art gallery.”

Tilly’s magnificent planter in the Market Place © Robert Le Rougetel

The judge’s visit will be the culmination of two years of planning, hard work, creative thinking – and fun. The seed for Halesworth in Bloom was sown back in 2007 when Tamsyn took pity on the neglected planters in the Thoroughfare. She got together with Halesworth and District Gardeners Society and planted the containers with colourful annuals. This caught people’s attention and before long some of the Halesworth Councillors and even the Town Clerk were involved. A next step was to enter Anglia in Bloom.

Tamsyn remembers taking the decision to enter the competition: “It was a daunting prospect and one that – if successful – would need commitment not just from a few individuals, but from the whole town.” There are now more than 100 people involved in different projects, and there are few people in the town that don’t know about Halesworth in Bloom.

Halesworth Hooker Trail Booklet: A new publication will be launched at World Land Trust art gallery in Bridge Street on Thursday 10 July at 6pm. The booklet tells the story of Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) and his son Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817-1911). Two of the world’s most famous botanists, the men were past residents of Halesworth and both went on to become directors of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The publication includes a walking tour of places in Halesworth connected with them. All those interested in Halesworth in Bloom are welcome to attend the launch of the booklet.

Botanical exhibition at Word Land Trust art gallery: An exhibition of botanical books and prints relating to William and Joseph Hooker will go on display at World Land Trust art gallery in Bridge Street, Halesworth, on Friday 11 July. The display has been organised by international conservation charity World Land Trust in support of Halesworth’s Anglia in Bloom bid. The exhibition preview is on Thursday 10 July at 6pm.

Community fundraising events: Recent fundraising events reflect the broad range of support in the town for Halesworth in Bloom. Earlier in the year Halesworth Gallery put on a special exhibition Paint in Bloom, and Halesworth Community Choir organised the In Bloom Concert at The Cut. In June an Open Garden was held at Magnolia House, which was a great success with many residents and businesses donating raffle prizes.

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