When our Town Council decided to enter the 2013 RHS Britain-in-Bloom Competition, WI Members Alison Birkett, Linda Darlington, Jean Hall and Carol Hird agreed to take up the challenge to enlarge and maintain the flowerbed situated on the approach to the Market Square. Also members of the Amateur Gardening Soci- ety, they would need all their expertise to make it a success, as the site is steep, dry and exposed. Initially discussed by the Committee in January 2013, an application was made to the NFWI in February for a Community Project Grant to help with the work, and in April we were lucky enough to secure an award of £150. The work of bedding in plants purchased from a local nursery began in June, and we are very grateful to the husband of one of the Committee members, who dug over the hard-baked soil to create the bed, to the daughter of our President, who assisted by working in the 3 bags of manure, and also to WI Member, Teresa Lyes, who lives close by, and who has faithfully watered the plants since they were placed in the ground. The final task will be to plant a quantity of bulbs in the grassy area surrounding the bed. Kirton-in-Lindsey has been awarded a first prize in the Campaign to Protect Rural England Best Kept Small Town Competition and we have yet to hear from the Britain-in-Bloom judges, members of the public have also been very complimentary about the display. Next year we hope that even more people will be able to enjoy it. Not to be outdone by the gardeners, the remaining members of our WI held a number of well attended fund raising events during March, April and May, the proceeds of which have been used to purchase a seat for community use. The seat will be placed on concrete standing close by the flowerbed, where people can take a welcome rest on their way up the hill and enjoy the view across the Trent River valley. Liz Henson, Secretary
Update
Members of the Town Council and a local engineer builder have kindly now renewed the concrete plinth and fitted the bench into position for all to enjoy.