Westfield in Bloom was launched on 18th January with an inspiring talk from Steve Clampin, Bristol City Council Parks Department.

Apart from commenting that Westfield Allotments and Garden Society allotments were pretty well the best he had ever seen as a South West in Bloom judge, he explained to the volunteers present how Westfield could be made to ‘bloom’, building on its successful entries in the neighbourhoods’ competition.

Westfield already has projects or areas which meet the criteria for an award – horticultural excellence, known as the ‘wow’ factor, (think hanging baskets) environmental conservation projects (think, the Waterside Valley project) and community involvement (all that litter-picking, plus the involvement of the schools and SWALLOW charity).

The photograph above shows Westfield Primary School’s garden, which represents a coal mine entrance – the school gardening society constructed it in a sustainable way, with drought friendly plants.

It commemorates the mining heritage of Westfield with the notorious Norton Hill mine, scene of the 1909 disaster, and the Wellsway mine, though they did not include the now almost unique pit pony stables which survive!

Eleanor Jackson, who is co-ordinating the entry, echoed his words when she said that In Bloom was above all about having fun and letting your imagination rip. Tubs are planned for Shakespeare Road, but maybe ‘Boris and Doris’, the scarecrows at SWALLOW’s Office garden will multiply or perhaps the long-promised memorial artwork to go by the memorial stone in Elm Tree Avenue will appear.

In Bloom projects have the advantage of being accessible to volunteers for as much or as little time as they can spare. Please get in touch with Eleanor Jackson if you are interested. There will be another meeting when the organisation is properly set up.

Email: [email protected] or tel: 01761 438968 or: 07979 968416.