email: info@drefachfelindregardeningclub.co.uk

CLWB GARDDIO DREFACH FELINDRE

GARDENING CLUB

The In Bloom scheme, previously known as Llangeler In Bloom, will now be included in the Annual Garden Club show as a photo competition for the most attractive garden. It will be added on to the show schedule divisions as

‘Local Gardens in Bloom’.
You don’t need to be a highly skilled photographer for this competition, as the judge will focus on appraising the attractiveness and appeal of each garden. There will be 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Highly Commended awards and cups will be presented to the overall winner from the Garden Club and the overall ‘Open’ winner.

The Local Gardens in Bloom division will have six classes:

Parish planting

Last autumn a group of volunteers gave up some Sunday mornings to plant bulbs around the parish and the daffodils are all coming up and starting to bloom. We aim to continue with the project this year and we have a small pot of money with which we can provide bulbs or plants for suitable community areas. The three containers we planted up at Ger Y Llan are doing well and the daffodils in the small containers at Oaklands are starting to bloom.

Spring Plant & Produce Sale:

Local Gardens in Bloom will be holding a plant and produce sale, plus refreshments, on the morning of Saturday 17th May at the Red Dragon Hall. We also plan to organise a seed swap. Donations of plants, garden produce, gardening sundries, books and home made cakes will be greatly appreciated. We will also need plenty of willing helpers for the plant stall on the day, as well as help with refreshments.

COMMUNITY PROJECT INITIATED
The idea for a local In Bloom competition originated from the Drefach Felindre based community regeneration group Symud Ymlaen, where Maggie Chance worked. Maggie presented the idea to the Garden Club committee, however the committee felt it was too much to take on at that time. Symud Ymlaen then gathered together a steering group of volunteers and Llangeler in Bloom was formed in 2007. The name was chosen because the scheme covered the parish of Llangeler, which is comprised of Drefach Felindre, Waungilwen, Pentrecagal, Pentrecwrt, Rhos, Saron, Banc y Ffordd, Pont Weli, Penboyr, Drefelin, Cwmpencraig, Cwmhiraeth and Llangeler. The steering group included Gardening Club members Brian Jacob, Steve Harwood, Maggie Chance and Mags Lawson, along with Roger Adams, the chair of Pentrecwrt gardening club, and Steph Callaghan from Drefelin, who acted as Chairperson for several years.

FIRST COMPETITION HELD IN 2007
The first year we based the scheme on the same lines as the In Bloom competition in Newcastle Emlyn, whereby attractive, colourful gardens seen from the road were appraised by an independent judge. Householders with the best gardens were invited to a presentation ceremony, where they received certificates and prizes. However, we found that quite a few people who lived away from the main roads were disappointed not to have been included. So in 2008 we introduced entry forms and were delighted that so many people entered their gardens or containers. Roger Adams took some wonderful photographs of the gardens and in following years he put them onto a DVD, which we displayed at the presentation ceremonies.

SUPPORT AND FUND RAISING
Drefach Felindre Gardening Club has always been supportive of the scheme and initially the prizes were presented at the Annual Show. However as the project grew, we decided to hold evening presentations at the Llywndaffydd and then the Lamb of Rhos. Funding for the project was initially provided by Llangeler Community Council, but unfortunately this was withdrawn in 2011. Much appreciated donations and fund raising events such as Quiz & Curry evenings and Plant sale & Coffee mornings, have all contributed to keeping the competition going. We have received exceptional support from our judges, who have included Lyn Davies and Mrs Jilly Hollins. Brian Jacob has driven the judges around the parish to appraise the many beautiful gardens that have been entered or nominated. Pentrecwrt Hall committee, Farmyard Nurseries and Trefhedyn Garden Centre have also been very supportive.

A NEW IMAGE
In 2013 we decided to go back to the original idea of taking nominations for the most attractive gardens and presenting the prizes at the Annual Show. This was reasonably successful, but required a lot of administration, so in in February this year we asked the Garden Club Show committee if we could run a photo 'In Bloom' competition at the show. This idea came about because the display of Llangeler In Bloom winner’s gardens alongside member's pictures of their gardens proved to be very popular. The Show committee agreed to include Local Gardens in Bloom as a division in the show schedule and the In Bloom committee agreed to provide the cups, find a judge and steward the division on the show day. Llangeler in Bloom has always enjoyed a close relationship with the Gardening Club and in 2012 the ‘In Bloom’ scheme was officially affiliated with the club. Because many people thought that the scheme only covered the village of Llangeler, the committee has decided that it will be known in future as the Local Gardens in Bloom sub-committee.