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!”
WiB Update & Events
On 22nd June 2019, we had our first WiB meeting where we formed a committee and agreed on roles and responsibilities for the 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
Compiling the minutes of the meeting
Photographer - Nicolette Stacey
Has to ensure we do not take or print pictures without permission
Fundraiser Lead - Vacancy
Website - Chris Grace
There are still a few vacancies and we would welcome if anyone of you would like to volunteer. Please contact me in case you are interested.
On 26th June, our Honourable Mayor Mary Sheldon unveiled the flowerbed at Churchfield recreation ground. See below for link to article with photos.
Our next event for summer is Litter picking on 20th July at 12 noon.
We will be cleaning the pathway along the railway track connecting Brooklands to Weybridge station.
Meeting point: Weybridge station parking (opp St George’s avenue)
*PLEASE BRING YOUR GLOVES ON THE DAY *
Look forward to seeing you all on the 20th July.
Kind regards,
Charu Sood
Chair-WiB
07964166345
Two Bulb Planting Events This Year
Last year our bulb planting event at Morrisons had been a huge success and was appreciated by the commuters and residents. We have therefore planned to do a much bigger spread of bulbs this year by covering a wider area across Weybridge.
Over the last few months, team Weybridge in Bloom has been working on identifying areas in Weybridge that can be potential candidates for bulb planting event. We have zeroed in on the following locations:
1. Outside Meejana, Weybridge
2. Oatlands Recreation Ground
We have scheduled our bulb planting events for this year at these 2 sites as follows:
Saturday 12th October 2019 @2 pm outside Meejana, Weybridge
Saturday 19th October 2019 @2 pm at Oatlands Recreation Ground
It will be great if you can join us at these events. I will look forward to seeing you there with a pair of gloves, good shoes and spade.
Also, please feel free to share this with others and help in making this year’s bulb planting a huge success.
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.
Litter Picking Events
Despite the bad weather, we had a good turnout at Weybridge station for our Litter picking event on 20th July.
Thanks to all the volunteers, especially to our little helpers.
Elmbridge Mayor Unveils Flowerbed
Elmbridge Mayor Mayor Mary Sheldon and her consort joined local residents and volunteers of Weybridge In Bloom, to unveil the feature flowerbed at Churchfields Recreation Ground.
It has been recently planted in the winning design of Weybridge In Bloom’s Design A Flowerbed competition, creating a living art installation.
Meadow Planting Report & Photo Gallery
The Weybridge in Bloom team were out in force on the Sunday afternoon, 12th of May 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.
The First Weybridge in Bloom Group Meeting took place on Saturday 2nd March 2019
Venue Weybridge Library – First Floor
Agenda:
- Introducing the Committee Members
- Future Projects/ Plans
- Announcing winners for the Design the Flower Bed Competition
- Action Days
Well Attended Meeting 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.
WiB Plans and Request For Volunteers – 19th March 2019
VOLUNTEERS
WiB team would like to request for volunteers as part of the team and help us run the initiative in a more organised and professional manner.
We are looking for a support in the following areas
Communications
Someone who can can take care of all the publication and media related activities for WiB.
Marketing
Someone who can help us in promoting the initiatives and help get sponsors and sponsorship money
Gardening Enthusiasts
People who are very passionate about gardening and take leadership in forming and running a “Gardening party”. They will be the ones who will decide on plants; grow saplings from seeds for planting , design flower beds and Identify the areas of concerns.
PROJECT & SCHEDULE
Here is the current schedule of activities planned in the next 9 months for which we require volunteers as above.
1. Sunflower competition in association with the Weybridge allotments
2. Spring – Meadow planting on 12th May
3. Summer – Litter picking
4. Autumn – Bulb Planting
Beautiful Roundabouts Project
The big project this year will be beautify the roundabouts at Weybridge station and outside Morrisons with support and permission of Elmbridge Borough Council and Surrey County Council.
I am very excited about these upcoming projects and would be eagerly awaiting your support for the above initiatives as well as for the volunteer roles above.
I look forward to hear from you.
Kind Regards
Charu Sood
(Organiser WiB)
07964 166 345
Plans & News Arising From Meeting – 2nd March 2019
Thanks to everyone who joined us at our inaugural meeting and official launch of Weybridge in Bloom. It was really pleasing to see so many of you and the energy you brought to the event. We really appreciate your inputs and will look forward to continue to work on your ideas that you put forth at the meeting. A few of the ideas are being shared here:
Suggestions for future events:
- Saturday is a preferred day for planning action days.
- Holding Weybridge Summer fayre, where kids can get involved and Weybridge allotment members can grow and sell their organic vegetables, fruits, jams and conserves.
- Run Garden based competitions such as Sunflower competition (for the tallest flower) and growing in the glass house etc.
- Work with Weybridge allotments to grow flower saplings from seeds for WiB to plant.
- Litter clearing should involve rowing clubs and should not be planned on 8th & 9th June as there is Regatta planned on both days
Suggestions for WiB Coverage and Publicity
- We should advertise and book a community stall for WiB in the Oatlands Village Fayre on 11th May 2019
- Clarify that WiB project is for Brooklands, Weybridge & Oatlands
- Green spaces Officer confirmed that the Green Infrastructure fund will be announced in summer
Suggestions for Places that can be potential sites for activities
- Grotto road and Monument Green requires urgent attention. Will check with Elmbridge Borough Council.
- Flower beds and flower displays in Church and listed buildings
- Entry to Weybridge (should have flowers by the fence as it highways lands it requires permission)
Date for your Diary: 12th May 2109 – Meadow Planting
at Churchfield Recreation Ground, Weybridge.
Flowerbed Design Competition
It was good to meet the winners of the ‘Flowerbed design competition’ and see the winning designs. And a big thank you to Cllr Mrs. Mary Sheldon, Deputy Mayor of Elmbridge, who graced the occasion and gave out the prizes to our winners.
Note: Photos of the winners and their designs can be seen here.
A Great Start
This is a start of a fabulous journey towards making a more greener, cleaner and brighter Weybridge and we will do our best to keep this engagement ongoing. So keep watching this space and feel free to reach out to us with your ideas and suggestions.
Kind Regards
Charu Sood
(Organiser WiB)
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
Design A Flowerbed Competition
Elmbridge Borough Council and Weybridge In Bloom organised a competition to design a flowerbed. The overall winning design will be planted in Churchfields recreation ground in the spring.
The date for entries has passed. The winners were announced at the Inaugural Meeting & Official Launch of Weybridge In Bloom (see above).
Entries were welcomed from Elmbridge School children:
• Years 3 to 6
• Years 7 to 11
and Elmbridge Adult Residents aged 18+
More information: Design A Flowerbed Competition Page
Winners Announced
See results and photos of winning designs
Design A Flowerbed Competition
The winning design will be planted in Churchfields recreation ground in the spring.
Entries are welcome from Elmbridge School children:
• Years 3 to 6
• Years 7 to 11
and Adults aged 18+
Members of Weybridge in Bloom and local schools have been sent invitations to participate, but the competition is open to all Elmbridge residents.
Closing Date 1st February 2019
More information: Design A Flowerbed Competition Page
Bulb Planting Event A Great Success
“It truly was a great turnout of enthusiastic gardeners, despite the gloomy and mildly wet weather. Their effort are sure to bring a dash of colour to our Weybridge during Spring season.
The children also had a fun time planting bulbs with their parents and worked as a team. Many people who attended registered to volunteer with Weybridge In Bloom. All in all the event was a resounding success and the silver lining was the support provided by the Morrisons team as they opened their cafeteria for the volunteers for hot drinks.
The horticulturist from green spaces team of Elmbridge Borough Council had supported the initiative by advising and contributing their time and gardening tools. They generously supported and provided Daffodil Bulbs for planting. The 3,000 bulbs planted should make a fantastic display as you approach the town centre.”
Charu Sood – Weybridge In Bloom Organiser
Gallery Of Photos
