2012: a vision for Sidmouth as 'the greenest town in England'

The Arboretum's AGM is happening later today - giving a chance to see how greener the Sid Valley is becoming:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Arboretum AGM: Tuesday 15th January

We do indeed seem to be getting there...

At the Vision Group's AGM some seven years ago, the VGS chair gave a personal vision for the town and valley:

VISION GROUP  AGM      

3 minute panel

By 2030 – we want Sidmouth to be the greenest town in England.   

You will see from the pic (circulated) of BELMONT HOTEL in 1817 – with thanks to Sidmouth Museum - that there were mature trees and shrubs close to the sea -

and woodland stretching up Glen Goyle and up to the hills.     I would like to see the Belmont replace their tidy rows of pansies with the lush foliage of a shrubbery which unlike the pansies can give us scented roses and the hum of busy insects.    

I would like to see the RIVIERA HOTEL replace their rather cold grey and very heavy containers with an idea used in New York, where the winters are very cold.    You need to make some large troughs of stout timber or metal and place them on wheels, plant them with bright colours and big foliage to give the sub tropical garden effect.    These should tolerate our variable summer climate and then when the weather turns - just trundle the containers to a more sheltered spot.

I would like to see the HAM CAR PARK remodelled along the lines of the pic. (circulated) with 30 trees.     So that we feel welcome when we go there and our visitors get a good feeling when they come into town by car  - the feeling you get from a cool and shady French square.   This would be an extremely expensive project but it would transform our feeling about the Eastern Town and perhaps a vast underground tank for rainwater storage could be incorporated into the groundworks.

I would like to see more tree planting in town,   There are several opportunities – for instance :  There is new café between Tesco and the Co-op – wouldn’t it be pleasant to have a few street trees offering shade and interest to the pavement area.   All the estate agents have their offices up there, so they know that tree lined pavements help property prices.   

We can improve the aspect of our own neighbourhood by planting more streets trees and shrubs on our side roads.    

Sidmouth in Bloom is encouraging community projects.

Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: Arboretum

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"Why is Sidmouth being left a little behind?"

Sidmouth in Bloom has been doing really well - and hopes to do even better:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth in Bloom looks to 'champion of champions' title > with 'innovations and colour' and 'a great community feel'
Futures Forum: Sidmouth wins RHS South West in Bloom gold - following on from RHS Britain in Bloom gold for small coastal town

And the judges been particularly praising of the community:
Futures Forum: Britain in Bloom judges praise ‘vibrant’ Sidmouth

However, the feeling is that much more could be done - especially by the high street businesses: 

Sidmouth being ‘left behind’ with lack of town restoration

09 November 2018

Sam Cooper



The pavements in Fore Street Sidmouth. Ref shs 34 17TI 9754. Picture: Terry Ife

There were calls for businesses to ‘get their act together’ as councillors debated the issue of Sidmouth’s dirty streets.

Sidmouth in Bloom’s chairman, Lynette Talbot, raised the problem of the increasingly dirty streets in an impassioned speech to the town council on Monday (November 5).

She said: “You’re going have to bite the bullet and start fighting for your patch. If Seaton can have great improvements done to it and Exmouth can have a nice new town square, why can’t we have new paving down the Fore Street and the market square? Why is Sidmouth being left a little behind?”

Lynette suffers from severe erosive inflammatory arthritis and fibromyalgia but manages to de-weed areas of the town.

She said: “The reason why there’s weeds down the streets is because no shopkeeper is going out on the whole, some are doing it but not all of them, are going out with a broom and sweeping into corners.”

Councillor and independent trader Marc Kilsbie said larger chains need to pull their weight.

He said: “I’m just about to start my 12th year of trading. In that entire time, Boots’ gutters have never, ever been cleaned out. I appreciate, we’ve all got a heavy work load and we’ve all got a lot to do but we all need to our bit - not just half a dozen independent traders.”

Boots had not replied to a request for comment at the time of going to press.

Cllr Ian Barlow said: “East Devon District Council (EDDC) were saying the other day of all the things they’ve achieved but perhaps what they should do is start looking at the town and perhaps they should start putting pressure on things that matter to people.”

A spokeswoman for EDDC said the authority does the ‘utmost to keep Sidmouth looking it’s best using our limited resources’.

“We have a dedicated team across the district and in Sidmouth we have two street cleaners and a mechanical sweeper driver. Recent feedback from our viewpoint residents survey showed that 71% of residents think that litter and rubbish ‘isn’t a very big problem’ or ‘isn’t a problem at all’.

“We’ve also recently started working with the Town Council to staff a monthly action day, where we target areas of concern or work on particular projects to clean up the town. This is working very well.”

Sidmouth being ‘left behind’ with lack of town restoration | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald

There are a load of issues and players invovled here...

One problem is that we have got too complacent, whether in failing the next generation or not taking care of our visitors - and this certainly involves the council, but also those putting together festivals and events to make the town attractive:
Futures Forum: The tourist industry in Sidmouth: 'we can’t be complacent'

Similarly, everyone needs to pull together over pollution, waste, rubbish, litter and the like:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth and sewage
Futures Forum: Getting the backing of the town council for a plastic-free Sidmouth @ annual Town Assembly > Monday 9th April

Back in 2013, the SVA set out to do its bit and set up the Keith Owen Fund, one purpose of which is to 'keep Sidmouth beautiful': 

Canadian Keith Owen, 69, made his fortune in the financial industry and travelled the world - but always returned to his favourite place - Sidmouth in Devon... Keith's massive £2.3million estate - £1,5million in cash and £800,000 from properties - was handed over with a stipulation it had to be spent keeping Sidmouth "beautiful".

Banker leaves £2.3 million to seaside village with instructions to plant one million flowers - Telegraph

Finally, there is the decidedly unattractive eastern end of the Esplanade - but pulling down an old building isn't necessarily going to make things look better:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: Drill Hall on the open market
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >> Scoping Study consultants' "final report" to be presented to Town Council > Monday 5th February

Because, as Lynette Talbot of Sidmouth in Bloom says:

"If Seaton can have great improvements done to it and Exmouth can have a nice new town square, why can’t we have new paving down the Fore Street and the market square? Why is Sidmouth being left a little behind?"

Sidmouth being ‘left behind’ with lack of town restoration | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald
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Sidmouth in Bloom looks to 'champion of champions' title > with 'innovations and colour' and 'a great community feel'

Sidmouth in Bloom is looking for the big prize:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth in Bloom looks to 'champion of champions' title > based on horticultural know-how, community engagement, efforts to bolster biodiversity and climate change adaptation

Despite some set-backs over the last couple of weeks:
Drunken destruction causes hundreds of pounds of damage in Sidmouth's Blackmore Gardens | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald

... SIB have been very engaged:
Sidmouth In Bloom | NEWS
Sidmouth in Bloom make final preparations for secluded gardens event | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald

And this week, the Britain in Bloom judges were in town: 

Colourful Sidmouth and phenomenal volunteers impress national judges

PUBLISHED: 12:00 10 August 2018

Clarissa Place

Lynette Talbot of Sidmouth In Bloom with judges and supporters. shs 31 18TI 9412. Picture: Terry Ife

‘Phenomenal’ volunteers have impressed national judges as the towns in bloom group made their bid for Sidmouth to be named the best in the whole of the UK.

Jon Wheatley and Jim Goodwin, from Britain in Bloom, enjoyed a tour around the town last Friday, on their penultimate stop of the national champion of champion contenders tour. Sidmouth is competing against Market Bosworth, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Didsbury, Usk and Truro for the highest honour in the horticultural competition.

The judges were full of compliments as they inspected the town and were treated to performances from the Sidmouth Ukele Band, Sidmouth Steppers and general festivities of the town’s FolkWeek.

Mr Goodwin, who judged Sidmouth nearly five years ago, said: “There have been lots of changes since I came here last time; the sensory garden wasn’t there when I came before and there have been lots of changes in Connaught Gardens. There have been new innovations and it's much more colourful.

“This is the best of the best, we are looking for new innovations and look for that attention to detail which is vital at this level. Sidmouth is one of the six best in the country.

“We have seen lots of volunteers and individuals who are doing remarkable work and in Sidmouth its very effective, they are a great team they work together and give a great community feel.”

Mr Wheatley, who is chairman of South West in Bloom, was also marking the town for the regional champion of champions category. He said it was an honour to have two representatives from the area in the national final.

He said: “The South West has never had two national finalists in the champion of champions, its phenomenal credit to Sidmouth and Truro. It is going to be quite tough. The commitment of the volunteers is phenomenal and so is the working partnership with EDDC.”

Lynette Talbot, chairman of Sidmouth in Bloom, thanked everyone for their involvement prior to the day and making sure the judges tour was a success. She said she hoped the town would take pride and maintain the street weeding carried out by volunteers.

The results will be revealed at a ceremony in Belfast in October.

'Phenomenal' volunteers impress Britain in Bloom judges on tour of Sidmouth | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald

See:
Sidmouth In Bloom
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A sensory garden for Sidmouth >>> official opening

The sensory garden for Sidmouth has taken a lot of planning to get together:
Futures Forum: A sensory garden for Sidmouth >>> funding to help project revitalise a rather tired part of town

And after all these efforts, it was officially opened last month:
Futures Forum: The Big Lunch on The Ham >>> Saturday 2nd June >>> Anne Swithenbank to open the Sensory Garden

With a photo piece from the latest Herald:

New sensory garden opens at the Old Boat Park in Sidmouth

PUBLISHED: 16:00 06 July 2018

Philippa Davies

Flowers and plants to attract birds, bees and insects at the new sensory garden

New sensory garden opens after two years of work

Local TV gardener Anne Swithinbank officially opened the sensory garden

Sidmouth has a new haven for quiet relaxation, meditation and reflection, following the creation of a sensory garden in the Old Boat Park at the end of the Ham by Sidmouth In Bloom.

It was designed by Lynette Talbot to feature plants that could thrive in the windy, salty conditions, and to attract birds, bees and other insects.

Volunteers removed overgrown shrubs, pampas grasses and other plants, and replaced the weed-infested topsoil with new soil and grit, before planting the new garden. It was officially opened by east Devon’s TV gardener Anne Swithinbank on Saturday, June 2.

The garden has plenty of seats, and QR codes on signs to identify the different plants. The team also plan to install bird and bat boxes.

Visitors enjoying Sidmouth's new sensory garden

The preparation of the site was managed by Peter Endersby, and Sidmouth In Bloom would also like to thank the team of volunteers, along with EDDC Streetscene for their help and advice.

Sidmouth In Bloom create new sensory garden at the Old Boat Park | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald
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The Big Lunch on The Ham >>> Saturday 2nd June >>> Anne Swithenbank to open the Sensory Garden

Last August saw fun and games at the Ham:
Futures Forum: Grand Picnic on the Ham > reports of 'a perfect day'

The same should be happening tomorrow: 

Friends of The Byes / Sidmouth BEE Project - Home | Facebook
Sidmouth In Bloom

With a little more on the Sensory Garden here:
Sidmouth In Bloom | History
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Sidmouth Plastic Warriors > raising awareness and pushing the ‘refuse, reuse, recycle, reduce’ mantra >>> next clean up > Saturday 10th March

The Sidmouth Plastic Warriors are meeting up this Saturday afternoon:
Sidmouth Plastic Warriors (@SidPlasticWar) | Twitter
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Plastic Warriors > Clean up around town, Ham and beach > POSTPONED to Saturday 10th March

And they should be joined by Sidmouth in Bloom's Sidcomber team:
Sidmouth In Bloom | CALENDAR
Futures Forum: Make Sidmouth plastic free > report from first meeting

Here's a piece from the Herald about the last clean-up - with more details about the next:

Sidmouth Plastic Warriors collect 30 bags of rubbish at Woolbrook in one hour

PUBLISHED: 16:30 04 March 2018

Beth Sharp

Sidmouth Plastic Warriors collect 30 bags of rubbish and recycling.

More than 50 plastic warriors joined forces and collected 30 bags of rubbish and recycling in Woolbrook.

The one-hour clean-up event took place last Saturday (February 17) and was the second of its kind to be run by the Sidmouth Plastic Warriors.

On the day, volunteers met up at the Manstone Youth Centre, in Manstone Lane, and split up into teams. Each group started from different locations and got stuck in, cleaning around the football field, skate park, in Long Park and around the youth centre itself. The plastic warriors were then invited back to the youth centre for a cup of tea and a homemade biscuit.

Denise Bickley, who started the campaign calling for Sidmouth to become a plastic-free town, said: “We all felt shocked at just how much we were able to collect within just one hour.

“The atmosphere was great fun - everyone was so happy to be doing something and the sun shone on us the entire time. Lidl, led by area manager Hope Suominen, cleared up their property and have requested contractors to come and sort out the brook adjoining the store.

“I think we could have carried on at the same pace for a few more hours, as there is still more rubbish out there. We found layers of plastic under layers of mud and needed spades as much as our litter pickers, to get right down. It is eye opening and scary to see just how much of it there is, covered each year by a layer of leaves, but not degrading at all.”

More plastic warrior events have been planned to take place throughout Sidmouth.

The next clean-up will be held on Saturday 10th March and will start at 2pm at the Sidmouth Prayer Room, Holmdale. Volunteers will be spending two hours tackling the beach, the Ham and the town itself, if needed. Sidmouth Prayer Room will then be providing refreshments afterwards.

Denise said: “This is a short term solution to raise awareness. We want to shine a spotlight on our need to be forward thinking and change how we see plastic - that means all of us, from children and teenagers through to the older generation. We need to change our shopping habits, pushing the ‘refuse, reuse, recycle, reduce’ mantra.”

Find the Sidmouth Plastic Warriors on Facebook for more information.

Sidmouth Plastic Warriors collect 30 bags of rubbish at Woolbrook in one hour | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald
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Sidmouth in Bloom looks to 'champion of champions' title > based on horticultural know-how, community engagement, efforts to bolster biodiversity and climate change adaptation

Sidmouth in Bloom have achieved huge acclaim:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth wins RHS South West in Bloom gold - following on from RHS Britain in Bloom gold for small coastal town
Futures Forum: Sidmouth in Bloom and a host of community projects win national accolades
Futures Forum: Britain in Bloom judges praise ‘vibrant’ Sidmouth

Now Sidmouth has been chosen to represent the South West in a particularly illustrious award:

Sidmouth set to fight for ‘champion of champions’ title at Britain in Bloom

07 February 2018

Stephen Sumner

Sidmouth In Bloom members are pictured with Britain in Bloom judges Ian Beaney and Teresa Potter last summer. Ref shs 32 17TI 9123. Picture: Terry Ife

Sidmouth is poised battle it out to be named ‘champion of champions’ at this year’s prestigious Britain in Bloom awards.

Now in its 54th year, the competition pits rural villages, urban corners and city centres against one another across a range of criteria that includes horticultural know-how, community engagement, efforts to bolster biodiversity and climate change adaptation.

Finalists are put forward to the national final based on their progress locally and will be scored by a team of Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) national judges in the summer.

Darren Share, who chairs the judging panel, said: “The Britain in Bloom campaign galvanises communities and provides the driving force for thousands of gardening enthusiasts across the country.

“Britain in Bloom groups work tirelessly throughout the year to tackle local issues and improve the place they call home. Everyone benefits from the work these groups carry out and I have seen first-hand the positive impact Britain in Bloom has in bringing communities together.”

The 76 finalists will compete across 12 categories, with the South West laying claim to the greatest number of finalists. Seven will represent the region, including two – Sidmouth and Truro – in the illustrious Champion of Champions category.

Didsbury in Manchester, the market towns of Market Bosworth in Leicestershire and Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire and the Welsh town of Usk complete this year’s Champion of Champions line up.

The RHS Britain in Bloom judges will visit the finalists in August with the winners of each category and finalists’ final score – ranging from gold to bronze – announced at an awards ceremony in Belfast on October 19.

For the first time, a new BBC Two series following the quintessentially British competition is set to air this spring, featuring five of this year’s national finalists – Immingham, Lytham, Shrewsbury, Tewkesbury and Usk.

For more information about RHS Britain in Bloom and to search for community gardening groups in your area, visit https://www.rhs.org.uk/communities/find-a-group-search-form.

Sidmouth set to fight for ‘champion of champions’ title at Britain in Bloom | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald

The Express & Echo also reports on how the town is looking to the summer to impress:

Sidmouth to compete in Champion of Champions category for Britain in Bloom awards

RHS national judges will visit the town in the summer

Daniel Clark 6 FEB 2018

Planters are poised and dibbers are at the ready as the East Devon town of Sidmouth is ready to be battle it out to be named ‘champion of champions’ at this year’s Britain in Bloom awards.

The nationwide competition pits rural villages, urban corners and city centres against one another, and across a range of criteria that includes horticultural know-how, community engagement, efforts to bolster biodiversity and climate change adaptation.

Finalists are put forward to the national final based on their progress locally and will be scored by a team of RHS national judges in the summer.

Sidmouth (Image: JOHN FFOULKES)

And Sidmouth is one of the seven town and villages from the South West that will compete in the illustrious Champion of Champions category.

Chairman of the Britain in Bloom judging panel, Darren Share said: “The Britain in Bloom campaign galvanises communities and provides the driving force for thousands of gardening enthusiasts across the country. Britain in Bloom groups work tirelessly throughout the year to tackle local issues and improve the place they call home. Everyone benefits from the work these groups carry out and I have seen first-hand the positive impact Britain in Bloom has in bringing communities together.”

The RHS Britain in Bloom judges will visit the finalists in August with the winners of each category and finalists’ final score – ranging from Gold to Bronze - announced at an awards ceremony in Belfast on October 19.

Sidmouth to compete in Champion of Champions category for Britain in Bloom awards - Devon Live
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Make Sidmouth plastic free > meeting Thursday 22nd February > press release

In a fortnight's time, people will be meeting up to see how Sidmouth could become 'plastic free':
Futures Forum: Make Sidmouth plastic free > meeting Thursday 22nd February

Here's the press release for the event:


Plastic Free Sidmouth

The Futures Forum of the Vision Group for Sidmouth will be holding a meeting open to all later this month to facilitate the bringing about of a ‘Plastic Free Sidmouth’.

This follows in the wake of several key campaigns in the Sid Valley, including the beach cleans by Sidmouth in Bloom’s Sidcombers, Surfers Against Sewage and the Sidmouth Plastic Warriors.

All of these groups are concerned about the amount of plastic making its way into our seas – and the devastating effect it has had, as seen on the BBC’s Blue Planet.

Denise Bickley of the Plastic Warriors has also been at the forefront of an on-line petition to ‘Make Sidmouth a single-use-plastic-free town’ at Change.org.

As for their part, the Town Council is going to be installing water fountains, and more businesses are looking at their use of plastic – including offering a free refill of water bottles.

And in Penzance, Surfers Against Sewage have been pioneering an ‘action plan’ for towns who want to go ‘plastic free’ with their Plastic Free Coastlines community toolkit.

On Thursday 22nd February there will be a public meeting to look at how Sidmouth could take a plastic free project forward – starting 7pm at the Leigh Browne Room of the Dissenters’/Unitarian Church Hall, opposite the Hospital.

It will be hosted by the Futures Forum of the Vision Group for Sidmouth and will be chaired by Robert Crick.

“Plastic waste on our beaches has doubled over the last decade”, he says. “Other towns have initiated town wide schemes to reduce plastic. Could this be an initiative for Sidmouth to adopt?”

Meanwhile, the Plastic Warriors will be having another plastic clean up on Saturday 17th February around the Woolbrook area, starting and finishing at the Youth Centre, 2 to 3pm: join the group on Facebook.

Their group’s founder Denise Bickley says: “We have lots of big ideas in the Sidmouth Plastic Warriors group and are keen to discuss the way forward at the public meeting on the 22nd.”

Anyone interested in a ‘plastic free Sidmouth’ is welcome to come along.

For more information go to www.visionforsidmouth.org

And here are some of the many other actions which have been going on:

Sidmouth Plastic Warriors:
Petition · Sidmouth Town Council Chairman - Councillor Ian Mckenzie-Edwards: Make Sidmouth a single-use-plastic-free town · Change.org
We Love Sidmouth - Clean Up Around Woolbrook
Futures Forum: Make Sidmouth plastic free > campaigns, actions and petition launched

Sidcombers:
Sidmouth in Bloom - Sea Changers
Sidmouth In Bloom - News
Residents asked to join big Sidmouth beach clean | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald

Surfers Against Sewage:
Plastic Free Parliament • Surfers Against Sewage
Sidmouth beach clean was ‘awesome’ | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald
Plastic Free Community Leaders • Surfers Against Sewage
Plastic-Free-Coastlines-Community-Toolkit.pdf
Penzance helps inspire other towns to achieve plastic free status appearing on BBC’s The One Show - Cornwall Live
Futures Forum: Making Penzance plastic free > how the first Plastic Free Town is an inspiration for others
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Sidmouth wins RHS South West in Bloom gold - following on from RHS Britain in Bloom gold for small coastal town

Sidmouth in Bloom has been incredibly successful, bringing prestige to the 'top small coastal town' in the UK:

Sidmouth in Bloom's Lynette Talbot and Sidmouth town councillor John Dyson receives the awartd from presenter Iolo Williams at the Britain in Bloom awards.

Sidmouth in Bloom wins big at Britain in Bloom competition 2017 | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald

And once again, the Royal Horticultural Society has been handing out prizes to Sidmouth:

Sidmouth and Exmouth celebrate gold success at RHS South West in Bloom awards

PUBLISHED: 18:15 06 January 2018

Laura Brainwood

South West in Bloom is one of eighteen regional/national competitions that make up Britain in Bloom, the biggest horticultural campaign in Europe. Communities that take part each year aim to improve and regenerate their local environments

Two East Devon seaside towns are celebrating recognition for horticultural excellence by winning prestigious regional awards. Sidmouth and Exmouth have both been awarded Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) South West in Bloom Gold awards. The accolades are the result of hard work by East Devon District Council’s StreetScene teams, Sidmouth and Exmouth’s town councils, local volunteers and businesses.

At the 2017 RHS South West in Bloom Awards, Sidmouth won Gold in the small coastal town category and also won the Sargents Cup for being the best nominee in this category. This award followed the town’s Gold in the 2016 South West Champions of Champions and several discretional awards for Best Business, Best Use of Indigenous Plants and Best Sea Side entry.

Sidmouth went on to further glory at the RHS Britain in Bloom National Awards by winning Gold and best in category for small coastal towns in the UK. This means that Sidmouth came top of the list for all small coastal towns in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.

At the National Awards Sidmouth was also nominated to take part in the 2018 UK Champions of Champions together with five other class winners, from large villages to small cities.

Exmouth was also a Gold award winner in the small coastal town category of the RHS South West in Bloom Awards and was the recipient of the Michael McGahey trophy for outstanding community effort.

East Devon District Councillor Tom Wright said: “It has been an amazing year of horticultural achievements for Sidmouth and Exmouth. I am delighted that the hard work and dedication of our StreetScene teams, together with the town councils and volunteers of both towns has been recognised.”

Mr Wright said he hoped the achievement would bring ‘great prestige’ to Sidmouth and enhance the town’s heritage. 

He commended the ‘outstanding dedication and hard work’ of StreetScene teams, town councils, volunteers and businesses, in achieving the awards.

Sidmouth in Bloom is recognised for its horticultural success | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald
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Sidmouth in Bloom and a host of community projects win national accolades

This year's visit by Britain in Bloom went extremely well:
Futures Forum: Britain in Bloom judges praise ‘vibrant’ Sidmouth

They were particularly impressed with the fantastic work Sidmouth in Bloom has been doing in the community:
In the second of a two-part feature, Sidmouth in Bloom’s Lynette Talbot explains what’s been happening at Sidmouth’s Old Boat Park - Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald
Futures Forum: A sensory garden for Sidmouth >>> funding to help project revitalise a rather tired part of town

One such community group which has contributed to the 'vibrant Sidmouth' is Friends of the Byes:

For the third time running FoTB have received the highest award of Outstanding merit from the RHS In Your Neighbourhood scheme, so well done us! The award was graciously received by Ian Davies on behalf of everyone at the Sidmouth in Bloom Award Ceremony.

FOTBSidmouth

Friends of the Byes volunteers have been awarded the highest level of “outstanding” in this year’s RHS - Royal Horticultural Society ‘It’s your neighbourhood award’ https://www.rhs.org.uk/…/camp…/it-s-your-neighbourhood/about
Thanks to all the volunteers and people who have donated a few £’s up to £100 towards wild flowers and also to the Sid Vale Association Keith Owen Fund and Sidmouth Town Council for financial support to help make this East Devon Countryside National Trust and East Devon District Council land all the nicer for everyone to enjoy.

Friends of The Byes / Sidmouth BEE Project - Home | Facebook

All of which has contributed marvellously to Sidmouth in Bloom's fantastic success:

Sidmouth in Bloom wins gold at Britain in Bloom

06 November 2017

Clarissa Place

Sidmouth in Bloom's Lynette Talbot and Sidmouth town councillor John Dyson receives the award from presenter Iolo Williams at the Britain in Bloom awards. Credit: Tony Mottram Group Name: SIDMOTH Category: Coastal up to 12k Award: Gold & O/ALL Winner Presented By: IOLO Williams Names: Lynette Talbot & John Dyson

Sidmouth in Bloom will battle it out for the highest honour to be named the champion of champions in the whole of the UK after winning gold at Britain in Bloom.

The group scooped the top prize and was named winner of the small coastal town category at an award ceremony in Llandudno last Friday. The win has also landed Sidmouth a coveted spot in the champion of champions category, which is made up of the top entries selected by the judges.

Lynette Talbot, chairman of the group, said the group’s volunteers will need the help of residents to ‘up the ante’ ahead of next year’s inspection.

She said: “We went really to get a gold, and it is fantastic to be named the winner out of all the people who are in the category. For us it is a real achievement as we been involved for five years. It’s been a real climb.

“This will, in addition to this year’s accolade, bring great prestige to the town – tourism, place to live, place carry out volunteering, bring up children and add to all the other desirable things that make up our Sidmouth’s heritage.

“It will bring a big challenge, not only to SIB, but to all who live and work in our town. To compete with all the UK entries of all sizes and be the best we must ‘up the ante’ in all things, horticulture, environmental care and community support.”

Britain in Bloom judges Ian Beaney and Teresa Potter were full of compliments when they visited in August, praising Sidmouth for being a ‘vibrant town’ proud of its horticulture.

It follows the bloom’s success in the South West in Bloom competition, where it claimed another gold and the Sargent Cup.

Community projects including The Friends of the Byes, The Chairman’s Garden, Witheby Entrance Garden, Sidbashers and Sidcombers, The Ham garden restoring project, Margaret’s Meadow, Livonia Road Shubbery were all recognised in the It’s Your Neighbourhood scheme receiving either an outstanding or thriving rating.

Peter Endersby, of the group, added: “We need to get the whole town behind us.They need to be rooting for us 
in a practical way, it has to be the town’s campaign to get us to be the best town in the whole of Great Britain.”

The committee thanked volunteers and the district council’s Streetscene for their help this year.


Sidmouth in Bloom wins big at Britain in Bloom competition 2017 - Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald
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Britain in Bloom judges praise ‘vibrant’ Sidmouth

The judges of the annual Britain in Bloom competition have very much enjoyed their tour around town this week:

Britain in Bloom judges praises ‘vibrant’ Sidmouth

PUBLISHED: 17:30 12 August 2017

Clarissa Place

Sidmouth in Bloom members with Britain in Bloom judges Ian Beaney and Teresa Potter. Ref shs 32 17TI 9123. Picture: Terry Ife

Sidmouth in Bloom is hoping to strike gold in the national competition.

Vibrant Sidmouth’s horticulture and volunteers have been praised by national contest judges. Ian Beaney and Teresa Potter, from Britain in Bloom, were full of compliments after taking a tour of the town on Tuesday led by Sidmouth in Bloom’s Lynette Talbot.

The judges began their visit at the Belmont Hotel before being shown The Byes, Blackmore Gardens, the town centre, the Three Cornered Plot and Connaught Gardens.

Mr Beaney said: “It was wonderful; a very vibrant town that is justly proud of its horticulture - it’s the only way that you could describe it, set in this absolutely beautiful coastline. The people that we have met today knew how to use horticulture at its very best and I think we will both leave with great memories.”

The judges also met the volunteers and groups behind successful community green spaces, such as the Chairman’s Garden and Beach Gardens.

Mr Beaney said the bringing together of volunteers to link into the community was testimony to Sidmouth in Bloom’s hard work.

Mrs Potter added: “The volunteers are very knowledgeable and really enthusiastic about their subjects, so you have different people with different skills who are really wanting to offer them to the community in order to be part of the community, which is really impressive.”

Sidmouth is one of 78 finalists going for gold in this year’s Royal Horticultural Society national competition. It is competing in the small seaside town category.

Lynette, Sidmouth in Bloom chairman, said judges noted the tidiness of the town, despite large crowds for FolkWeek.

She added: “They want to see the town active. They know in a town that has lots of guests in it, you would expect to see certain things like rubbish. We had people behind the scenes and you couldn’t see any rubbish, which is what the judges were looking for.”

Lynette thanked the Belmont Hotel for hosting the start of the tour.

Britain in Bloom judges praises ‘vibrant’ Sidmouth - Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald

With a nice little video courtesy of the Herald:



National judges visit Sidmouth - YouTube
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