FOCUS ON ADDINGHAM (From Ilkley Gazette)

Fingers crossed bloom bid comes up smelling of roses

2:53pm Friday 10th August 2012 in News

Impressive floral displays and bright sunshine showed Addingham in the best light possible as the village made its first Britain in Bloom bid.

Two Royal Horticultural Society judges visited last Thursday to assess Addingham’s entry in the small town section of the national competition.

After gaining several high-standard silver gilt awards in the regional Yorkshire in Bloom competition, Addingham won a gold award last year, earning the village its first-ever selection for Britain in Bloom.

Other competitors in the small town section are drawn from Dorset, Oxfordshire, County Durham and Northern Ireland. The results will be announced during a special ceremony at St Peter Port in Guernsey in October.

The task of co-ordinating Addingham’s entry has been in the hands of experienced green-fingered gurus Addingham Garden Friends, which joined forces with community organisations, Addingham Parish Council, Bradford Council and residents to get the village looking its very best.

The Garden Friends took the judges on a tour of the village, calling at highlights including Addingham Primary School – where children cultivate their own plot – and the Hen Pen in Main Street, a rustic former hen run converted into a floral public garden.

Coloured bunting was hanging along the streets, and many shops had maintained colourful window displays first put up during the recent Addingham Gala and Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

A special effort was put in to beautify the fire-damaged former village store in Main Street, painting the boarded-up shop front and doorway to represent a florist’s shop.

Judge, Jon Wheatley, said: “We’re really impressed by the commitment of the community towards making a beautiful place more beautiful.

“It’s lovely to see young people involved.”

Fellow judge, Rae Beckwith, who actually had a sneak preview when he passed through the village earlier this year while visiting relatives, praised gardeners for making the best use of native resources, such as local stone.

Bursting with pride after village’s first ever civic awards presented

Hard-working ‘In Bloom’ volunteers, a shop committed to village life and a recently re-opened and refurbished pub and restaurant have won Addingham’s first Civic Pride Awards.
Keighley constituency MP Kris Hopkins officially handed over the three awards on behalf of Addingham Civic Society last Thursday – the same day Britain in Bloom judges visited the village.
The society set up the awards scheme to encourage public involvement in protecting the quality of life in Addingham, promoting high standards of planning and to encourage the development of features of public amenity, historic interest or environmental importance.
This year, the society chose three recipients from numerous worthy examples in the village. But it is encouraging residents and community groups to make nominations for future awards.
Addingham Garden Friends was selected in recognition of the special contribution made by its volunteers over the years to the quality of life in the village.
Main Street gift shop The Olive Branch was chosen for an award in recognition of an “inspired contribution to Main Street and its commitment to village life”.
Civic society members complimented its creative window displays, and said it was always at the forefront of business involvement in the community, as well as being a willing contributor to events and local efforts.
The third winner was The Fleece pub and restaurant, also in Main Street, for the “inspired craftsmanship and sympathetic design of the refurbishment”.