Fruits of Gusto estate’s community to be showcased in Collingham in Bloom’s East Midlands in Bloom competition entry
From allotments, to a café growing its own herbs, to a community shed — an estate’s blossoming community is to be showcased.
Collingham in Bloom is preparing to be judged as part of the East Midlands in Bloom competition for the first time next month, and is hoping to wow judges with the green-fingered and community-minded endeavours of the Collingham Brook Estate.
The Gusto development is set to shine in the competition, with the allotments selected as the best community enterprise, and the Shed @ Collingham chosen as the best commercial enterprise for the competition entry.
Judges will visit both — and hear about the green endeavours of a gardening action group, and the Allotment Cafe — in early July.
The East Midlands in Bloom competition focuses on the ‘three RHS core pillars of excellence’; horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility, and community participation, and seeks entries which promote these things.
Collingham in Bloom chairman, Jenni Oliver, who has taken the reins for this year to help the village through its debut bloom competition, said: “We’ve picked these as part of the route as they signify good community effort.
“That is key for the competition alongside horticulture.”
The allotments, in the heart of the estate, are self-run and managed by their owners — who grow everything from flowers to fruit and veg.
Among them is Phil Salathiel, who will lead the walk and talk about the area with the judges.
He said: “These are community allotments, available for anyone who wishes to have one.
“We’ve got a spread of age groups in the allotments, it’s a lovely community area.
“It’s a place for mindfulness and to interact with other people.”
The area also has real eco-minded community bragging rights, thanks to the Beaufield Residents Action Gardening Group (BRAGG) who care for some of the estate’s green spaces.
“It’s a wonderful way to get out in the community and make friends,” Jenni added.
The Shed @ Collingham also has the community at the heart of its operations — and has helped spruce up the village for the competition too, by restoring a Trent Vale Trail information board.
They’ve also helped develop the allotments by building posts for tall-growing plants.
Dez Williams, of The Shed, said: “Everyone is welcome, we have 59 members and we can do everything from wood turning, wood carving, laser cutting, and 3D printing.
“We do quite a bit for the community — for the cycle race we made a wooden bike, we’ve done things on commission like four poster beds, planters, and shelves for a hairdresser, and we do the porches for Gusto’s homes.”
The Shed also runs ‘Table Talk’ sessions, for those who don’t want to do woodwork but want to come and take part in the Shed community.
Nearby, the Allotment Kitchen and Deli has also begun growing its own herbs for use as part of its menu, and has got green-thumbed to ready its outdoor area for the summer.
Cafe owner Byron Bett said: “We wanted to use the area as the weather gets better and make it a nice place to sit.
“The herbs will be used in the cafe, and we will use the cut flowers for table displays.”
East Midlands in Bloom judges will visit Collingham on July 3, to be taken on a two-hour tour to see it’s planters, hanging baskets, school gardens, community endeavours, and residents’ front gardens.
Other aspects of the entry include the Royal Oak community pub as ‘best pub’, and resident Jan Nichollson put forward for ‘best residential front garden’.
