Bulphan in Bloom “A Community Project”
Open Gardens Day
What better way to spend a sunny summer afternoon than wandering around a delightful Essex village looking at other peoples’ gardens?
Bulphan in Bloom’s debut last year at the Anglia in Bloom competition saw them walk away with several awards including a Silver Gilt medal. The committee and volunteers had wanted to improve the look of the village with hanging baskets and planters strategically placed around the area. To add more interest among the community this year they introduced their first Open Gardens day featuring 10 very different private gardens and Yourthurrock gladly went along to take a look.
First impressions were of a very well organised event. Car parking was clearly marked and for an admission charge of £3.50 you could park the car and gain entry to the 10 gardens on show as well as listen to the young jazz band playing in the grounds of the very beautiful St Mary the Virgin church. A very detailed map was provided and a free minibus service was on hand all afternoon to ferry visitors around the village. Everyone was very friendly and there was a great sense of the community pulling together and helping each other and visitors alike. Some of the gardens were mature, some wild, some manicured but each had its own individual style and something different to offer. The owners were welcoming and happy to take time to talk and show you around. In most of the gardens you could buy refreshments or purchase plants and produce and local artist Beverley Johnston was encouraging her visitors young and old to try out their drawing skills. There were orchards and woodlands, bee hives, pigs, chickens and rabbits, vegetables and fruit and even Snow White’s cottage, the Flowerpot men and a putting green!
All in all a grand day out. The sun was shining, the music was drifting gently across the fields on the breeze, and although dark rain clouds were looming on the horizon, it seems it will take a lot more than a downpour to dampen this particular community’s spirit.
Lisa Chapman
