Weybridge In Bloom
About Weybridge In Bloom
Weybridge in Bloom is a community project aimed at increasing civic pride in the local Weybridge community. Through this initiative, we want to encourage residents and businesses to get involved and make Weybridge a brighter, cleaner and greener place in which to live, work, and do business.
Weybridge in Bloom will help in getting people together; improving their local environment and creating spaces that are a source of pride for people of all ages. This will primarily be through encouraging gardening and horticultural activities in open and public spaces that complement the character of our town and adds color to our surroundings.
The photo at the top of the page shows planting of 3,000 bulbs at the approach to the town centre. More information and photos on that below.
Opportunities through our initiative could include designing floral displays, creating wild flower meadows and organising events and local activities such as bulb planting days, environmental clean ups, cleaning waterways, litter picking, helping to run a committee, managing the upkeep of horticulture displays etc.
As a community run initiative, we welcome all residents to partake in this endeavour and help make it a success. If you would like to join us, please contact us and we will send you a membership form. Joining will enable us to keep you informed about our next event. If you have any questions or would like to help in any way, please contact us using the details at the bottom of the page.
Sponsorship
Thanks To The Arts Society Weybridge For Our First Sponsorship
“On behalf of team Weybridge in Bloom, I would like to thank The Arts Society Weybridge for the generous donation which was received on September 16 , 2019.
Weybridge in Bloom relies on generosity of donors such as yourself and is grateful for the support. Your financial support will make it possible for us to improve local environment and create spaces that will be a source of pride for people of all ages.”
Charu Sood, Chair of Weybridge In Bloom
Weybridge in Bloom relies on generosity of donors such as yourself and is grateful for the support. Your financial support will make it possible for us to improve local environment and create spaces that will be a source of pride for people of all ages.”
Charu Sood, Chair of Weybridge In Bloom
Membership
“Please register so that we can keep you informed. Let’s take pride in Weybridge and create a fantastic community spirit. Go on, get involved!”
Activities & Achievements in First Year (2018/2019)
Looking back on the year 2019, we started the year with a handful of volunteers and are now a community of over 100 plus members from all across Weybridge and neighbouring areas.
As we come to the end of 2019, on behalf of team WiB, I send you Seasons Greeting and a wish you a very Happy New Year 2020.
We look forward to continue and build on our successes from 2019.
WiB Update & Events
Weybridge in Bloom held its Annual General Meeting on 3rd March 2020 marking one year since its inception.
Thanks to all the members for making it a successful year.
The Mayor, Councillor Mary Sheldon, announced the winner and runners up for this year’s Flowerbed Competition.
The theme for this year was ‘New Decade- New Beginning’ and the awards went to:
Winner: Gabriela van Kampen de Albuquerque Maranhao – (Cleves School, Year 6).
1st Runner up: Lia Paterson (Year 5, St. George’s Junior School)
2nd Runner up: Tobias Frost Pedersen (Year 3, Cleves School)
The winning design will be planted at the Churchfields recreation ground. For pictures of the winners and designs please visit our page
Our next upcoming events are:
Wild Flower Bed on Saturday 14th March at 2 pm at Churchfields recreation ground.
Litter Picking event POSTONED (was planned for Saturday 28th March at 2 pm) at the Green on Heath Road.
I would also like to extend special thanks to Ian Gayton from Elmbridge Borough Council’s Green Spaces who gave a fascinating presentation on the history of Churchfields recreation ground.
We also had in our midst, Michael Tumilty, ambassador for ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ and pioneer of ‘Walton Litter picking group’. He shared his experience of setting up the Walton Litter Picking Group and the fantastic work they have been doing.
Litter picking is also one of the key themes for us this year and the session really helped us gain insights on this topic. Thea Dickinson, a student at Heathside school, who has set up ‘Weybridge Wombles’ – a litter picking initiative as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award spoke at the group about her experience as well and inspired us all to do our bits for keeping Weybridge tidy. Both Michael and Thea’s efforts and keenness to keep environment clean was appreciated and applauded by the attendees.
Weybridge in Bloom has now adopted the initiative started by Thea – Weybridge Womble – and have now set up a litter picking group. We hope you will share the same with your friends and neighbours and make it as successful as you have made the other WiB Initiatives to date.
Charu Sood
Chair-WiB
07964166345
WiB Team
Chair - Charu Sood
Treasurer - Mike O’Sullivan
All accounts related activities
Will provide financial report
Events Lead - Ian Donaldson
Will take permission from EBC and SCC Highways when required
Arrange with EBC and Highways on dates
All approvals for events should be submitted to him
Arrange competitions
Gardening Lead - Diane Ewart & Anna Gibbons
Designing and planning
Selecting the flowers for planting
Will provide time lines for planting
Publications Lead - Hilary Butler
Will take care of all press related activities and publications for WiB
Compiling the minutes of the meeting
Photographer - Nicolette Stacey
Will be covering all events and provide the photos for social media and press
Has to ensure we do not take or print pictures without permission
Fundraiser Lead - Vacancy
Website - Chris Grace
Monument Hill Improvement Project
Weybridge in Bloom has been actively working towards the improvement works at the top of Monument Hill. This is going to be one of our main project for this year. Here are the detailed plans for your information.
We have now obtained permissions to work from Surrey Highways and Elmbridge Borough Council and have been successful in securing funding for the initiative from the Elmbridge Community Fund.
Also Surrey Councillor Tim Oliver has extended his support by making a generous contribution to this initiative from the Members’ Community Allocation Funding from Surrey.
More information and images: Monument Hill Improvement Project Plans
WIB's “Best Dressed Christmas Window” 2020
This competition was open to all Weybridge non-retail and retail businesses to make Weybridge look and feel extra magical at Christmas.
The competition had been split into 2 categories:
- Hair & Beauty
- Other Businesses
Results For Hair & Beauty Category
Winner: Collections Hair Club
First Runner Up: Glitterati Hair & Beauty Salon
Second Runner Up: Garretts Hair Boutique
Other Businesses Category
Winner: Hill House Interiors
First Runner Up: Bluebell 33 Gift Shop
Joint Second Runner Up: Aromas Artisan Kitchen & Coffee
Joint Second Runner Up: Fleurs Amanda
Photos and other information: Best Dressed Christmas Window Competition – Results
Winners Announced For 2020 Children’s (under 10’s) Sunflower Competition
The Children’s Sunflower competition was arranged by Weybridge in Bloom in partnership with Churchfields allotments to involve Weybridge junior gardeners in Weybridge in Bloom.
We had an outstanding response this year and we are really pleased to announce the winner of this year’s Tallest Sunflower Competition.
Cedar (5) and Acer (8) who go to school at Oatlands and Cleves respectively. They are very proud of it and we have measured it at 3.7m.
For more information see our Sunflower Competition page
Meadow Planting Event at Churchfields Recreation Ground
Thanks to the enthusiastic diggers!
A big thank you to all who came out to help us with the dig event and helped us prepare the Wildflower bed at Churchfields Recreation Ground on Saturday 14th March 2020.
This was a fun event, particularly for families.
See the photos on our page for the Meadow Planting Event.
2020 Design A Flowerbed Competition Winners Announced
Members of Weybridge in Bloom and local schools were invited to create a flower bed design that reflects their vision for Weybridge for the next 10 years.
Theme: New Decade = New Beginning
The winning design will be planted in Churchfields Recreation Ground in the spring.
2020 Competition Results
The winners have been announced and have been presented with certificates and trophy by Elmbridge Mayor, Mary Sheldon. Click on the link above to see the presentation photos and winning designs.
Litter Picking - POSTPONED
The Litter Picking event which was planned for Saturday 28th March 2020 has now been postponed due to the current precautions for CoronaVirus. A new date will be planned for later in the year.
Our new litter picking group Weybridge Wombles has been recently set up to keep Weybridge clean.
We had been organising our first Weybridge Wombles litter picking event on Saturday, 28th March 2020 at the Green on Heath Road.
When we have a new date arranged, please join us to show that you love where you live. Litter picking sticks, hi vis jackets and bin bags will be provided by Weybridge In Bloom.
It’s a family friendly event so people of all generations are welcome!
Invitation To Weybridge in Bloom Annual General Meeting on Saturday 7th March 2020 at 10am
As our Guest speaker Mr Peter Holman (Chair S&SEiB) will be talking us through to guide us on the requirements and preparations for the competition. It will be a good opportunity to register interest and join WiB.
Venue Weybridge Library – First Floor
(Church Street, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 8DE)
Agenda:
- Previous year’s review
- WiB 2020 Objective/ Plans
- Guest Speaker Peter Holman, Chairman & Managing Director of South & South East in Bloom.
- Announcing winners for the Design the Flower Bed Competition
- Treasurers report
- Any Other Business
Invitation To Weybridge in Bloom Annual General Meeting on Saturday 7th March 2020 at 10am
Ian Gayton, Manager- Green Spaces, Elmbridge Borough Council. He will be talking us through about the ‘In Bloom’ participation requirements and preparations.
It will be a good opportunity to register interest and join WiB.
Venue Weybridge Library – First Floor
(Church Street, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 8DE)
Agenda:
- Previous year’s review
- WiB 2020 Objective/ Plans
- Ian Gayton, Manager- Green Spaces, Elmbridge Borough Council.
- Announcing winners for the Design the Flower Bed Competition
- Treasurers report
- Any Other Business
Last year’s well attended meeting, which launched Weybridge In Bloom, was a great success.
To see photos of the WiB launch, and news of the competition winners including photos of their winning designs, please click here.
Trees Planted In Weybridge To Promote Eco Friendly Groups
Elmbridge Borough Council In Partnership With Weybridge In Bloom
“We had a great turnout on Saturday 30th November at our Community Tree planting event in partnership with EBC to celebrate National Tree Week. Together we planted 5 Silver Birch trees in Churchfields Recreation Ground, Weybridge. It was a pleasure to have our Honourable Mayor Mary Sheldon to support the event.
On the day we invited Eco friendly groups from neighbouring towns.
My Son’s Planet
Cloth Club Weybridge
Elmbridge Environmental Concern Group
Molesey Clothing Exchange
Weybridge Men’s Shed”
Charu Sood
Two Bulb Planting Events in 2019
Last year our bulb planting event at Morrisons had been a huge success and was appreciated by the commuters and residents.
We therefore planned to do a much bigger spread of bulbs this year by covering a wider area across Weybridge, and held two bulb planting events:
Saturday 12th October 2019 outside Meejana, Weybridge Town Centre
Thank you all for coming down to help with Bulb planting despite the rains.
I’m sure Weybridge is going to have a beautiful floral display in Spring 2020.
Saturday 19th October 2019 at Oatlands Recreation Ground
Big thanks to all the parents and their young ones who came out to help team WiB with Bulb planting at Oatlands recreation ground on Saturday.
Your help will surely make Weybridge look vibrant next Spring!
Charu Sood
Chair-Weybridge in Bloom
Children’s (under 10’s) Sunflower Competition
Weybridge In Bloom & Weybridge Allotment Holders’ and Gardeners’ Association joined to organise a competition to grow the tallest sunflower in Weybridge!
Children were invited to participate in this new competition in May and collected seeds from the allotment shop and at the Meadow planting event.
The competition was won by 2 children who are friends at St James’ school. The height of their giant sunflowers were too close to separate, so they were declared joint winners!
For more information and to see photos of the prize winning sunflowers, please see the results page.
Meadow Planting Report & Photo Gallery
The Weybridge in Bloom team were out in force on the Sunday afternoon, 12th of May 2019 at Churchfield Recreation Ground to lay the wild flower meadow.
The meadow will be created with mix of seeds : Poppy, Cornflower, Corn Cockle and Corn Marigold.
Radio and Press
Some of the local coverage for this great local initiative. Our thanks to Brooklands Radio, a great local station that we at All About Weybridge can strongly recommend.
Brooklands Radio Interview - Presenter Graham Laycock talks to Charu Sood who has news of Weybridge in Bloom, a new initiative to make Weybridge a more attractive place to visit
Radio Woking Interview - Jon Andrew talks to Charu Sood about Weybridge in Bloom, including the bulb planting event and the launch meeting
Weybridge in Bloom press coverage in Surrey advertiser (click on +)
The First Weybridge in Bloom Group Meeting took place on Saturday 2nd March 2019
Time: 2:00 pm.
Agenda:
- Introducing the Committee Members
- Future Projects/ Plans
- Announcing winners for the Design the Flower Bed Competition
- Action Days
Contact Information
Phone
Charu Sood: 07964 166 345
Please mention the All About Weybridge website
Gallery Of Photos
