HALSTEAD IN BLOOM
Minutes of a meeting 28th March 2019 7.30p.m. at Halstead Icing
Chairman, welcomed all present and accepted apologies from those who could not attend.
MINUTES of 28th February had been circulated and were adopted
NEWS: *AGM – Feedback. All agreed that this was a successful event, and the speaker from Perrywoods was very interesting. It has been ascertained that group visits (not more than 15 people) can be arranged at Perrywoods, Tiptree. Sec was asked to make enquiries to book visit on 25th September. Powerpoint presentation of accounts was thought to have been useful. *Anglia in Bloom Spring Launch – Feedback. The lack of biscuits with coffee on arrival was a major concern, will be taken to AiB. There will be biscuits at the next event!! Catering at the event was rated as good. It was commented that not much was learned by HiB delegates. The first speaker – Tamara Bridge, speaking about the Warner Edwards garden she had created at Chelsea Flower Show was interesting and informative. Second speaker – Terry Bane of Norwich in Bloom Partnership was not considered interesting. *Halstead Flower Festival. Friends of St. Andrew’s Church with Halstead in Bloom is planning another Flower Festival this year. It will be at the Church on 21st/22nd/23rd June and theme is ‘All the Saints’. HiB has taken St. Dorothy, the patron of Florists, Gardeners, Newlyweds and Brides. Joan will design and helpers will be needed for set up on 19th/20th June. Sponsors for the event will be sought, and help will be required on viewing days to serve drinks, etc. and to marshall.
EVENTS: **Rivercare. Next event is Sunday 7th April. Meet 10am at Sainsbury’s Car Park. *Next Community Litter Pick. Sunday 31st March and then 28th April. ALL WELCOME. Meet 10.30am at Sainsbury’s Car Park. This will be Halstead’s effort for the Great British Spring Clean and has been publicised on the Keep Britain Tidy Web Site and BDC events calendar. *Rivercare annual conference at Rutland Water on 6th April; Joan and Margaret E to attend. Margaret T is also attending as part of Rivercare Group. *Cake stall planned for 20th April, outside Solar, donations of cakes to sell will be appreciated Stall manning as follows: 9-10 Carol and Annie. 10-11 Margie C and Iola. 11-12 Joyce and Joan. 12-1 Margaret E and Julia. Set up from 8.30am, please bring donations from then onwards. *May Fayre will take place in Halstead Public Gardens on Monday 6th May between 2pm and 4.30pm. Theme for the day is SAFARI ADVENTURE and all are invited to dress the part!! HiB will have a stall selling various goods and hopefully planting sunflowers and/or nasturtiums. *The Bull Hotel is to hold a ‘Meet and Greet’ event on Saturday 11th May 12pm to 3pm in the function suites and gardens. HiB will attend with information and promotional goods. *Halstead Marathon will be 12th May. Names of volunteer marshalls have been passed to organisers. Route for the Marathon is not yet known, details will be shared when available. *Plant Sale will be on 24th May at Friday market. Joan has received some of the plug plants ordered, and has potted up begonias, pansies and geraniums. Carol will take some to grow on and Margaret E will also grown on others when they arrive. *Buddy Bag event will take place in Witham on 25th May. Details at www.buddybagfoundation.co.uk. *HiB Quiz for 2019. Booked at the Con Club for Friday 18th October. *Collecting and Planting Summer Bedding will be 1st and 2nd June. Details later. * Public Meeting about River Colne in Halstead has been called by a resident, John Smith, and will take place on 17th April at Queen’s Hall from 7pm. Some invitations have been sent out but it is understood that this will be an open meeting for all to attend.
ANGLIA IN BLOOM’18. *Route for AiB judges’ tour 2019. A timed route was shown for both Anglia in Bloom and Britain in Bloom tours. Will start at Bull Hotel, this has now been agreed with Bull Managers, who will provide refreshments to Judges. Linda and Margaret T have viewed the section proposed from Hawthorn Close to the Road Runners’ Bed and feel it would be better to travel back along Churchill Avenue/Sudbury Road/Boils Hall Gardens/Colne Road to the Bed. Sec will walk with Braintree DC along the route, team will form groups to view each section and report back to sec. (ASAP) on any work that needs to be done before this walk round takes place. Some bird boxes have been put up on the river walk, and some wild flowers are showing through ‘Special’ entries were discussed and good quality photos for each ‘special’ entry are required. It was said that U3A Photo Club might help – Alan has also volunteered assistance. *RHS Britain in Bloom tour is shorter in time and the route has been adjusted to suit. It is hoped that the Bowls Club will be available for end of tour refreshments for both tours. *New Sheltered/Care Home category. Anglia in Bloom has introduced a new category this year and it has been suggested to Priory Hall that HiB could enter them into this category. Jean is speaking with Management about this. Halstead Hall has also been advised of this category. *Self Marking. It was suggested that some members might like to do an exercise on marking the judging route nearer to the time of judging and this was thought to be a useful exercise. *Badges. It was stressed at RHS Britain in Bloom seminar that Judges do like to have names on the people they meet. Various badge holders are available, and Annie is happy to make badges.; it will be helpful for anyone meeting judges along the routes to have a simple Christian name badge. *Children’s Competition. Margaret T has entry forms; so far about 14 entrants confirmed. Entrants will be asked to make a bird box and/or a frog house together with a planted pot containing plants for wild life and bring them to the Public Gardens on judging day for Anglia in Bloom. It is hoped that some will be available for the RHS Britain in Bloom judges to see also.
WORKING PARTIES : For all working parties meet at 2pm. on Town Bridge/Halstead Icing car park unless advised otherwise: Tuesday 22nd April – Work at River Walk (Parsonage St.) to dig out nettles. Bring thick gloves, digging forks. Thursday 4th April. Small working party at the Dr’s Surgery, just those who worked here last time as it’s a very small space. Tuesday 9th April – Resource Centre. They are holding a Spring Fayre on 12th April to raise funds for customer outings (we’ve said that HiB won’t be able to have a stall, but all are invited to visit the Fayre.) Thursday 11th April. Dr’s Surgery working party. Tuesday 16th April. Dead heading and weeding at Solar area. No working party on 18th April. Thursday 25th April. Dr’s Surgery Working Party. After that more details at next meeting.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS: *Allotment. There were no takers for work on an allotment, and the site has now been let to another party; maybe try again at another time. *Local Garden Competition. Categories are to be the same as last year. Prize money to remain at £30 for 1stt prize and £20 for 2nd prize. Dates for judging to be 20th and 21st July. Closing date for entries to be Friday 12th July. *Weed Clearing Machine. Cutting from the NFU magazine was shown of a rotary brush, petrol driven, weeding machine. It was agreed that this might be useful, but cost is £1330.00 plus VAT, making it almost £1500. There may be grants available for purchase. It is believed that BDC have, or have had, a similar machine and sec. to investigate and ask for their thoughts. It was queried whether it may be possible to hire a similar machine. Sec. to investigate.
*Oliver has joined the Britain in Bloom Facebook group and has posted photos (many taken by Alan) of Halstead. He will continue to monitor and report. *Margaret T noted that drains had been cleared in Halstead. Margaret also said that some work had been done on clearing the river in the Box Mill area – it is not known how far along the river this clearing will take place. *Joan showed a card, signed by Beavers, thanking her and Margaret for their talk about Halstead in Bloom. It is hoped that some of the Beavers’ work may be shown to Judges. Joan also had raffle tickets for the Air Ambulance, £1 per ticket. Others also have tickets. Joan said that Cllr Mrs Shirley Diver and Alan Diver are moving from Halstead and have some half pots of fence paint to give away (some green, some brown). Annie, Nicky, Ian, Joyce and Thelma asked for some. Joan said that Shirley also has some office units for sale at £20 each. Please ask if you are interested. Joan asked if some of the Mary Portas/Town Team money could be used for purchase of replacement containers in the High Street – ownership of these containers is not known but when established we may put in a claim. *Joyce spoke about grass cutting and the amount of cut grass left on top of verges. *Annie noted that another non-heritage lamp standard had been erected in the town centre, outside Hume’s. Sec. has been told that these are ‘temporary’ until heritage posts can be sourced. Annie also noted that the gold bands around Sainsbury’s tubs is peeling away. Annie said that there is vine weevil in the new tubs at The Centre. Joan said that when deadheading/weeding team should take a note of which areas are affected; we will need to purchase more compost so that soil in affected tubs can be changed.*Iola spoke about parking on the grass verge at Parsonage St. It is hoped that HiB can put some large tubs on this verge to deter parking in future. It was noted that various other areas of the town are being damaged by cars parked on verges. *Chris showed a poster, designed by Oliver, about the Community Litter Pick programme. Oliver volunteered to print off another dozen and laminate them for posting around the Town. *Fiona asked that BDC be thanked for renewing the Factory Lane road sign that has been broken for some time. Fiona also spoke again about the trees on the footpath through from Parsonage St. to Weavers’ Court. This has been reported. Fiona spoke about a large pot hole in Factory Lane. All road defects and street light failures can be reported via the Essex CC web site. *Carol noted that the Wade sponsor signs in entry beds need to be cleaned/renewed. Carol also spoke about the bed on corner of Oak Road that may need attention. Joan to view.
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There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.09 p.m.
Next team meeting on Thursday 25th April 2019 7.30p.m. at Halstead Icing. All welcome
Contacts: Margaret Eskins Chairman. 01787 269443
Julia Smith, Secretary. 0776 2587141 / 01787461806. e-mail jaygrey@btinternet.com
Joan Gibson, plants and working parties. 01787 473070
www.halsteadinbloom.org.uk Facebook: halsteadinbloom. giveasyoulive.com/join/halstead-in-bloom
join membership of National Co-op (Colchester Road) and note HiB as your preferred charity to donate via Co-op purchases.
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