Old Grammar School Rooms
Watkins Room, Old Grammar School, Chipping Sodbury
Sodbury in Bloom Working Party
10am, meet outside the Baptist Church, Chipping Sodbury
Every first Thursday morning of the month there will be a Sodbury in Bloom working party planting, weeding and tidying up planters. For details ring Pat Fryer on 01454 853736.
Chipping Sodbury Clock Tower
Guided Walk
7.30pm, meet at the Clock Tower, Chipping Sodbury
Free of charge. Organised by the Historical Society.
Old Grammar School Rooms
Sodbury in Bloom Meeting
7pm, Watkins Room, Old Grammar School, Chipping Sodbury
Old Grammar School Rooms
Sodbury in Bloom Meeting
7pm, Watkins Room, Old Grammar School, Chipping Sodbury
Old Grammar School Rooms
Sodbury in Bloom Meeting
7pm, Watkins Room, Old Grammar School, Chipping Sodbury
Old Grammar School Rooms
Sodbury in Bloom Meeting
7pm, Watkins Room, Old Grammar School, Chipping Sodbury
Old Grammar School Rooms
Sodbury in Bloom Meeting
7pm, Watkins Room, Old Grammar School, Chipping Sodbury
Old Grammar School Rooms
Sodbury in Bloom Meeting
7pm, Watkins Room, Old Grammar School, Chipping Sodbury
Sodbury in Bloom
How to contact Sodbury in Bloom
It's really important that everyone in Sodbury feels part of Sodbury in Bloom, so if you have ideas for what you'd like to see, please email them to:
If you are interested in supporting Sodbury in Bloom in any way, please click here to download and complete our registration form [.doc] and email it to Julia Bernau at: or contact Pat Fryer on 01454 853736.
Latest News
May Update
It's now just over two months until the 'In Bloom' judges arrive so Sodbury in Bloom is getting very busy.
The Spring bulbs we planted need to come out and the Summer planting in red, white and blue needs to go in.
The community orchard has been spruced up and we should see some wild flowers there before too long.
South Gloucestershire Council is also doing its bit and planting up Smarts Green roundabout with a colourful prairie mix, plus creating a new bed on Bowling Hill for the same mix.
We are really hoping to see more hanging baskets in the High Street this year also in red, white and blue to match the Council's colour scheme. It makes such a difference, as well as showing the judges that the community is behind Sodbury in Bloom.
See below for more information about our plans for a wellie trail and now is the time to be looking out those old wellies and planting them up.
Give us your Bloomin’ Wellies
Every successful campaign needs a unique selling point and for 2012 the Sodbury in Bloom team have decided to focus on Wellington boots.
Yes, we know that sounds a bit strange but we would like you to plant up your old wellies and turn them into eye catching and unique floral features.
Everyone can get involved. Dig out any old unwanted wellies you have in your shed or garage, punch a few drainage holes in the bottom, fill with soil or compost and plant up with bright plants or seeds.
The wellies could be home to tumbling tomatoes, bright geraniums or butterfly friendly flowers such as lavender.
Alternatively, if you are not keen to plant up wellies for your garden, please donate them.
Sodbury in Bloom will plant up as many as they can to display round the town.
Wellies can be left in the garden at the back of the Town Council Offices next to McColls the newsagents. If you have any questions you can email them to .
A fun trail of wellies will be promoted during Chipping Sodbury Festival 15th – 24th June.
External Floral Display Competition
Following the success of last year's competition (see below) The Sodbury in Bloom team will be running this again. More details to follow.
Sodbury in Bloom newsletter
The group has produced the very first Sodbury in Bloom newsletter. Watch this space for future newsletters with dates for next year's activities. It's going to be a busy one...
Click here to read the December 2011 newsletter [.pdf 717kB]
Lilliput Park
Sodbury in Bloom have regular action mornings in Lilliput Park every second Thursday in the month from 10.30am to 1pm. Please join us, and bring secateurs, shears and bags.
We are opening up an area of the park known locally as the 'quiet corner' and have already planted roses and heather plants.
We have also planted a dozen colourful shrubs and are reinstating a buried rockery as part of our long term plans in this area.
In 2012 the Sodbury in Bloom Team intend to walk the Britain in Bloom Judges from the Kingfisher Road gate entrance and across the Millennium Bridge, then to the Quiet Corner and along the top field footpath to exit via the Love Lane entrance.
It is essential therefore that the route to be walked is fully maintained and improved as far as is practical.
2011 Results
Well, we did it again. This year Sodbury in Bloom won a Silver Gilt award, up a category from last year, so we are obviously doing something right.
Hopefully, you will have noticed that Chipping Sodbury looks even better as a result of our attentions. There are more hanging baskets, fewer weeds, the Millennium Garden is looking great and even the Wickwar Road car park is looking better.
It's amazing what a difference a little bit of TLC can make and the bonus is the fun we have had doing it all.
We couldn't have done it without the help of other organisations and our volunteers and the Sodbury in Bloom Team would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped.
We can't list all the organisations but we are very grateful to them all. However it is the individual volunteers who make the difference.
From those who came to the working parties to those who grew plants for us or gave us donations all of you made a big contribution.
Of course we want to do even better next year and we are aiming for a Gold award in the not too distant future.
It would be really good if more people could be involved this year so please come and join us if you have even a little bit of time to spare.
New signs for Chipping Sodbury, as illustrated, are being installed by the Town Council, to mark the success of Sodbury in Bloom.
Exterior Floral Display Competition 2011
Every year Sodbury has many wonderful floral displays in pots, planters and hanging baskets.
in 2011, the Sodbury in Bloom team held a competition to create an external floral display, which was judged by Her Grace the Duchess of Beaufort. Rich McDonough kindly took photos.
At the Town Hall the Duchess was greeted by the Mayor Paul Jobbins, Cllr Melody Gall, Chris Alcock and Deborah Newman – all committee members.
Melody, Chris and Deborah escorted Her Grace around town, and the tour finished at the Rounceval House Hotel, with coffee and cake hosted by Mark Lloyd, Chairman of Sodbury Chamber of Commerce.
The Duchess met the Festival Flower Princess Scarlet Smith and presented her with a framed photo momento.
Scarlet presented Her Grace with a bouquet of flowers, as a thank you from Sodbury in Bloom.
The Duchess was extremely impressed by the standard of entries, in the closely fought contest, which was challenging to judge (she was the sole judge). There were two categories – residents and business.
The Duchess is a keen gardener and thoroughly enjoyed her visit to Chipping Sodbury – she hopes even more entries will be received next year.
The results were as follows:
Resident Awards
Gold: Mrs P L Jacobs, April Cottage, 7 The Parade – she also won the gorgeous hamper donated by The Hamptons Delicatessen
Silver: Deborah Newman, Milestone Cottage, 43 Horse Street
Bronze: Mrs M J Willis, 64 Horse Street
Business Awards
Gold: The Coffee Bean, 74 Broad Street
Silver: The Boot Inn, Horse Street
Bronze: The Hamptons Deli
The following day the Mayor and the above committee members personally awarded the awards.
2011 Judges Route
Click here to see the Judges Route for 2011. [.pdf 42kB]Flower Princess
Sodbury's Flower Princess 2011 - Scarlet Smith, age 11, receives her photo from the Duchess of Beaufort. Photo courtesy of Rich McD Photography.
Community Orchard
Sodbury in Bloom and St. John’s Park Conservation Group planted a new community orchard, off Couzens Close in February 2011.
Apple, plum, pear and damson trees will all hopefully flourish and create fruit for future Sodbury Scrumpers. Local food and great for wildlife!
Thanks go to South Gloucestershire Council for providing a grant meet the costs associated with this initiative.
New Sodbury in Bloom Friends Group
Become a Friend of Sodbury in Bloom and support the development through gardening, fundraising, producing and distributing a newsleter or through donations.
Click here to find out more [.pdf 732kB]
About Sodbury In Bloom
A committee of volunteers co-ordinates Chipping Sodbury's participation in the prestigious Britain in Bloom competition.
This is an annual competition run by the Royal Horticultural Society, which aims to stimulate interest within communities to improve their local environment through the imaginative use of trees, shrubs, flowers and landscaping.
Points are awarded for:
- Horticultural achievement
- Environmental responsibility
- Community Participation
Our area covers the ward of Sodbury and the judges were shown the High Street, Lilliput Park, St John’s Mead Primary School, several day nurseries, the riverside walk, the Millennium garden, Stubbs Ridings and the Baptist Church garden.
Gallery
Here's a selection of photos taken by Rich McDonough:
A Patron for Sodbury in Bloom
The committee is delighted with the news that the Duchess of Beaufort, a keen horticulturalist, has kindly agreed to be patron of Sodbury in Bloom.
The Duchess definitely has the right credentials for this role as she’s published a book called Easy Gardening: Recipes for Successful Planting, and the committee is grateful for her support.
Sodbury in Bloom is also supported by:
- Sodbury Town Council
- Dodington Parish Council
- South Gloucestershire Council
- Growing Ideas - Chipping Sodbury's Gardening Club
- Sodbury and Yate Business Association
- Chipping Sodbury Chamber of Commerce
- Rich McD Photography, who supplies pictures for the Sodbury in Bloom portfolio and this web page
- The Boundary magazine
- Jamprint
Sodbury in Bloom Logo
Sodbury in Bloom held a competition among local schoolchildren to design a logo for the campaign.
The winning design was created by Sophie Press from St John's Mead Primary School.
How it all began...
At the 2009 Chipping Sodbury Festival, local residents were invited to stick pins in a map of the area to show where they thought trees, flowers and plants would make a positive impact.
A working group at Sodbury Town Council began to look into the possibility of Sodbury entering the Britain in Bloom competition.
In December 2009, an open invitation was extended to the community, and attendees were enthusiastic about forming a group to continue the project.
In February 2010 a committee was formed.
