Nelson In Bloom is calling on local residents, businesses and community organisations to help make the town a “blooming success”, when Britain In Bloom judges visit next month.
The group, which was started by a small but enthusiastic group of volunteers last summer, has entered Nelson into the “Britain In Bloom” competition for the first time and the judges will be arriving in town on July 10th.
Volunteer and vice-chairman of the group Graham Williams said: “This will be both an exciting and nerve-wracking time for us. While Colne, Barnoldswick and Barrowford in Bloom are now well established, this is completely new to us and we want to do Nelson proud.
“Our regular volunteers have been doing the groundwork for the past 10 months but now, with just a month to go, we could do with all hands on deck to get the town centre spick and span before the judges arrive.”
Nelson In Bloom, which is renovating the old War Memorial site to turn it into a community garden, have already been joined by pupils from St John Southworth and Walverden Primary Schools who have each taken charge of a bed at the site, with one growing vegetables and the other flowers.
The group have also recently begun work on the old town centre fountain, along with several floral displays.
Yvonne Tennant, one of the regular volunteers, explained. “Everybody is welcome to come and lend a hand. They don’t need to be a gardening expert. I didn’t know a dandelion from a pansy when I first started but you learn as you go along.
“I just thought it would be a nice thing to do for my home town. It is great fun and you meet lots of lovely people.”
Nelson In Bloom will be working in the town centre on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6pm and on Sundays from 10am, meeting outside Nelson Town Hall. And they said: “So why not come along and help out at some of these sessions?”
Anybody who cannot make these times but is interested in helping out, or would like further information, can call Nelson In Bloom on 716389 or email: nelson_in_bloom@yahoo.com
