This week a few volunteers did some work at the Otley in Bloom allotment. Here’s what they said about it:
Had a good morning in the wind at the allotment – much tidier, weed free and things potted up. Nice cup of coffee at waitrose after to reward ourselves.
A few of us tidied up the allotment this morning, weeded, planted up spare barrier plants etc. There are primulas, heuchera, grasses, small trees, shrubs, geraniums and many more, they are there for recycling, using around town when we need replacements. Thanks to Edie, Evelyn, Leonie and Jacquie for helping and sharing a nice social afterwards at Waitrose.
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!
Pupils from The Whartons helping to plant snowdrops
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.
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….
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’ve given the square wooden planters around Otley a spring clean and added some Spring flowers. It took quite a gang of us to do this as there are quite a few planters to look after. The sun shone and we enjoyed planting some bright primulas and generally tidying up.
Otley in Bloom 