Several Otley in Bloom members recently did some pruning and tidying and a bit of planting at Bremner Street. We had a good turnout for this taskforce including 2 new volunteers. We cut back the overgrown shrubs and took away several very large bags of prunings and litter.
Thank you to all the many people, including a group of Beaver Scouts, children from The Whartons, and many others, who came to help us plant thousands of snowdrops in many places around Otley last weekend, including in the Town Centre, behind the Library, opposite The Junction, in our new garden at Craven Street, at the corner of Bremner Street and many other places too numerous to name. More planting is continuing until the end of the month. We should with any luck see our snowdrops beginning to flower next February – look out for them!
Now we’ve had time to add it up, we think that 100 to 150 people helped us plant snowdrops – a Big Thank You to everyone who helped.
Otley in Bloom are delighted to announce that we got a Gold Award for the second year running in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition 2015.
It has been a real team effort. The judges said they were really impressed by how many individuals and businesses were taking part, and even taking ownership of small pockets of space. Apparently this is unusual in a town the size of Otley, as normally the bigger the town the more people expect it to be “someone else’s job”. Thank you to everyone who helped us achieve this, and particular thanks to Neil Wilson and his Parks Team.
We were also the winner this year of the town category being awarded gold. Judges said: “Otley looked fabulous a testament to all your hard work, well done everyone.” Colourful hanging baskets around the Maypole, the “well cared” for White Bridge allotments, Otley in Bloom’s nectar bed and Wharfemeadows Park, were all singled out for praise, as were the many Otley businesses who put out hanging baskets and pots to brighten up shop fronts.
Mass Snowdrop Planting
to commemorate World War 1
Sunday 20th September at 10am, meet at The Buttercross
This September Otley in Bloom will be working with schools, community groups and other interested parties to plant snowdrops to mark the centenary of the First World War. 5000 bulbs will be planted across the town in key locations to mark this important anniversary.
Why snowdrops?
Snowdrops have been chosen as they are a symbol of peace and hope, and a link to the white war graves. They are also an early source of nectar for bees. The snowdrops will flower in spring 2016, creating larger clumps every year from then on to create a lasting legacy.
If you would like to be involved, or can think of a good place to plant some snowdrops, let us know….
www.otleyinbloom.co.uk or call 01943 462390
Snowdrops and War – Some Facts
There is also a connection with the Crimean War. Unlike the poppy’s association with the blood spilt in the First World War, the purity of the snowdrop enchanted the soldiers bogged down in Crimea (1853-1856). The flowers heralded spring on the battlefield. Many survivors brought the bulbs back to plant in their gardens.
Snowdrops contain their own anti-freeze. They were harvested during the First World War to make anti-freeze for tanks.
On a sunny day, snowdrops are highly scented and give off a honey smell. If you have enough plants the perfume will fill the garden.
We received a very nice report from the Craven Street resident who first asked if we could help him improve the site.
I first contacted Otley In Bloom roughly a year ago about the possibility of clearing up a scruffy triangle of land on Craven Street. It had been an overgrown area full of litter and used to toilet dogs, but not much else, and was a neighbourhood eyesore.
Otley in Bloom were full of ideas, knowledge, organisational skill, energy and an inspiring commitment to the project. They also provided valuable funding and muscle power in weeding, organising the pollarding of the elderberry tree, planting grass seeds and daffodil bulbs, buying a bird box and lastly a bench. As a result we had a wonderful spring show of long flowering daffodils which many people have enjoyed. The bench has recently been installed by OIB volunteers, and though the weather hasn’t encouraged much sitting and chewing the cud yet, it sets the garden off and I hope will encourage further participation with locals planting more bulbs and (I hope) a tree at some point.
Since then some flowering plants have been added at the back, and a plaque fixed to the seat. The Craven Street garden is no longer an eyesore, and is a pleasant place to visit.
Otley in Bloom 