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As we move into the summer months we hope to see floral displays at their best. The theme for this year’s communal displays is ‘global warming and climate change’. In accordance with this theme, we have majored on ‘hot’ colours so that reds, yellows and orange dominate in tubs, containers and hanging baskets. Many of the towns businesses have taken up an offer of themed baskets, produced by Truedy Baker and watered by Mathew Howells on our behalf.

Alongside the usual display of bedding species we have continued to place emphasis on plants which require less water during summer. Beds planted with grasses and lavender (near the British Legion in New Market Street) and with herb species (on Four Ash Street) are now well established and provide an attractive contrast to the colourful begonias and surfinias elsewhere in Usk.

Seven newly planted beds of mixed shrub species on the approach from the A449 will take another season or two to be as prominent a display as we would wish. Further down the Monmouth Road, we have acquired central rock displays in the two circular beds fronting the main road. These give increased height to the beds and make them more attractive. We are grateful to Kay Peacock for acquiring the rocks.


The date of the Usk Town Competition is Wednesday 16 July. As is usual, members of our committee will view all gardens and floral displays and produce a lengthy ‘short-list’ for our independent judges to view on judgment day. We have introduced a new class this year – best shop/office window to feature ‘hot colours’.

We understand that the town’s entry for ‘Wales in Bloom’ will be judged during the period 21-23 July. We thank all those people who have agreed to allow the judge to visit their gardens or are otherwise part of the team either helping with last minute preparations or presenting information on the day.

Maintaining the displays post-judging is very necessary to ensure that they continue to be a source of pride and an attraction for visitors and residents alike. If you can spare the occasional hour to help with this task, please contact our work party organiser Christine Barnfield (671345).


YOUNG CRICKETER’S PLANT A BOUNDARY

The young cricketers of Usk left the practice nets to help plant eight trees on the boundary of Usk Athletic Club’s ground. The trees were purchased using an Agenda 21 grant awarded by Monmouthshire County Council to the Usk in Bloom Committee. The grant has been used to plant native tree species within the town.

The youngsters planted holly, hawthorn and oak with the help of volunteers from Usk in Bloom and the Usk Conservation and Environmental Group. The planting is one of several done this year to improve the local environment. Tree species have been chosen to provide shelter and an additional food source for birds and other wildlife. This is one of several projects involving the youth of Usk in the town’s efforts this year to win its class in the ‘Wales in Bloom’ competition.


Class 6 Large Village Trophy: 1st:- Usk with a Silver Gilt.

Class 9a Hotels, Guest Houses, Public Houses and Restaurants All Areas: Merit:- Nags Head.

Class 21 Schools Gardening & Environment Competition: Joint Second:- Usk Church in Wales Primary School.

We are grateful to our commercial sponsors for their continued support in 2007. These are The Glen-yr-Afon House Hotel, Usk and Freedom Farm Eggs, Gweheulog. A big thank you also to Usk Town Council, Llanbadoc Community Council and the many supporters in Usk who have made donations to fund this years competition entry.


The Winners of the 2007 Usk Town competition are announced - click for details.

See some pictures of the town in bloom July 2007 and how we looked in July 2006.


A lively auction at the ‘Nag’s Head’, Usk on 6 March raised the impressive sum of £4,400 for this year’s Usk in Bloom campaign.

The monies will support the purchase of bedding plants and cover other expenses to maintain the town’s reputation as ‘the town of flowers’.

Auctioneer Chris Brain.

The auction was once again supported magnificently by individual donors and businesses in Usk and district. The two auctioneers, Chris Brain and Mike Key oversaw strong bidding from a crowded room of 80 supporters. They auctioned over 120 items donated to the cause.

Usk in Bloom Chairman, David Gale, said "that the response from the town was superb and wished to thank everyone involved in raising the funds for 2007".


The story of Usk’s participation in Entente Florale (Europe in Bloom) 2006 is told on a DVD produced by the young people of the town through their Big Eye Arts Workshop. Copies are available from H & R Wallpaper and Paint Shop, Bridge Street, Usk for £5 each.
 


The 'Open Gardens' weekend took place on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 June 2007. Some 25 private gardens were open to the general public for viewing. This is the 13th year that local volunteers have arranged the event. To date Usk Open Gardens has raised over £100,000 for charities.

Click for pictures of Usk blooming in 2006.

 

Usk Open Gardens weekend.

Usk was one of two communities to represent the United Kingdom in Entente Florale (Europe in Bloom) in 2006 and won a Silver Award. Usk also won Class 6 (the large village category) in Wales in Bloom. It is the 25th successive year in which Usk has won a class in the national competition.

Other Usk successes in 2006 were Traditional Fish and Chip Shop (2nd in the hotels, public houses and restaurant class), the Primary School (2nd in the school gardening/environmental class), Manor Court (2nd in the care home/sheltered accommodation class) and The Cross Keys (merit in the public houses class). Local schoolchildren also won awards – Margaret John (5 years old) and Maisy Knee (7) coming second in their painting competitions; Madeline Pritchard (9) and Kay Stone (9) received merit awards in theirs.

See a full list of the 2006 Usk in Bloom town awards.