Town getting ready for new Bloom entry (From Malvern Gazette)

Town getting ready for new Bloom entry

7:50am Friday 12th February 2010 in News

UPTON in Bloom is gearing up for another successful year in the Heart of England in Bloom competition.

With the group largely forced into inactivity over the last month-and-a-half by the dreadful winter weather members are now raring to start work on the town’s 2010 campaign.

This summer’s displays have now been planned - although their colour scheme remains a closely guarded secret - and Upton in Bloom chairman Jackie Surtees is confident they will put on another impressive show.

“I think that they will be quite eye-catching this year,” she said. “We are putting a different display on the Old Churchyard, which will be something quite exciting, and we have got another new display in the planning stages, which is something we hope to get schools involved in.”

She continued: “It seems ages since we have been able to get out because of the bad weather so we are raring to go. We can see bulbs starting to pop up all over the place now so hopefully the improved weather will continue and we have a good spring.”

Upton has enjoyed a huge amount of success in the Heart of England in Bloom competition, most recently winning a gold award and winning the ‘large village’ category in 2009.

Upton in Bloom is holding a fund-raising table top sale in Memorial Hall from 10am until noon tomorrow (Saturday, February 13) to help fund this year’s campaign. Two further sales are planned in the coming months and the group will also be raffling a giant chocolate egg at Easter time.

“We will probably try and squeeze another couple of events in and then we will be right in our busy season,” said Mrs Surtees.

*One of Upton’s most impressive floral displays is in a large rowing boat situated outside Upton Marina. However the boat is no longer in very good condition, and Upton in Bloom would like to hear from any local clubs who have an old boat that they would be happy to donate. Anyone who may be able to help can call Mrs Surtees on 01684 592336.