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News:
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.
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Usk Wins Wales in Bloom Class 6 again in 2007!
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.
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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.
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Annual Auction 2007
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’. |
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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".
Usk in Bloom DVD
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.
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