Thanks go to all the Women of Chorley in Bloom who have worked so hard and are very grateful for the opportunity to make the new Learning and Community Hub thanks to the £10,000 grant from the NATIONAL LOTTERY COMMUNITY FUND, COME ON LADIES WE CAN ALL DO IT.
#NationalLottery
@TNLCommunityFund
What a fantastic night with the Ronin Explorer Scouts. They planted up some sempervivums and will be entering them in the Amateur section of the Chorley Flower Show. They also tidied the pots and trays, planted sweet corn, leeks, climbing beans, dwarf beans, carrots and other veg seeds. Some replenished the bug hotel, cleared weeds under the fruit trees and lots more. We all had fun and we’re looking forward to seeing them and working with them again. Thank you Leader Natalie Hicks for bringing your hard working Scout Group. You were all 
The Mayflower ship is nearly ready to set sail from St Thomas’s Square with just dressing with flags to do before the Judges come. Mayflower 400 Sweet Peas will be climbing the masts. Thank to our volunteers Gillian Broughton David Brown Dedrah Moss and me. It’s on CCTV. A sign will be attached shortly. 
The sign has been attached. Hope everyone likes our newest project.
The train looks lovely in its new livery and a clean face. Today volunteers spruced up the front border and added a little colour with busy lizzies, petunias and begonias. Some of the holes behind the train were filled in with perennials and grasses. Thanks go to Denise Willis Linda Lea dedrah and me for all your hard work.
Chorley in Bloom Meeting for Knitters/crocheters/crafters arranged for Monday 8th April at 10.00 at The Buttonhole 40-42 CHAPEL Street, Chorley. Tea/coffee and biscuits. Come and see what the squares and flowers are going to be used for and see how you can help. Bring your knitting etc. Sewing skills will be
needed too. Everyone Welcome.
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Come along and learn some new skills.
Everyone Welcome.
Message from Chorley Council Sunday 29th July.
Chorley Flower Show
We’ve done all we can to get Chorley Flower Show on today but due to the ground conditions, high winds and rain we’ve taken the decision to cancel the event for the safety of visitors and people taking part in the show.
We delayed a decision to give it as much chance as possible but after speaking to everyone involved we decided to cancel the event. The exhibitors and traders were in agreement with the decision.
Information about refunds will be shared in the coming days.
We appreciate everyone’s understanding and thanks to everyone who supported the event for what was a very successful event yesterday.
Chorley Flower Show
Tickets on sale now
GARDENING enthusiasts keen to see some of the country’s top floral exhibitors can now get their tickets for Chorley Flower Show after tickets go on sale today.
Thousands of people enjoyed dazzling displays and a host of horticultural entertainment at the first ever show last year, which was nominated as a finalist in the Lancashire Tourism Awards.
People can save on the ticket prices by buying in advance for the Chorley Council-run show, which promises to be bigger and better this year.
Councillor Alistair Bradley, Leader of Chorley Council, said: “The first Chorley Flower Show made a huge mark last year and was recognised regionally as one of the best days out.
“We had some tremendous feedback about what was a stunning event and we’ve been working on improving it further for this year and it promises to be another must-see event.
“Tickets are now going on sale and if people buy in advance you will receive a discount on the entry fee.”
The two-day event, held on 30 and 31 July in Astley Park, will include:
• A professional exhibitors’ marquee featuring gold-medal winning entrants from some of the country’s biggest shows
• Stunning show gardens, which are a new feature of this year’s show, including Chorley’s award-winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show exhibit ‘The Evaders’ Garden’,
• The unveiling of the new Victorian Glasshouse, which will be planted up for the show with demonstrations
• Meet celebrity gardeners who will be answering your questions
• Horticultural trade stands offering the best quality in garden products
• An amateur marquee incorporating flower and pot plant classes and floral art
• Take a tour of the historic Astley Hall, which will be decked out with floral decorations
“We are delighted with the calibre of attractions we will have at this year’s show and although it is very much focussed on a horticultural theme the displays are so spectacular that it makes a good day out for anyone,” said Councillor Bradley.
“There will be plenty of entertainment in the showground and there will be a section of the show for children with fun activities and a chance to meet farmyard animals too – it is a day out for all generations of the family.
“We set the entry fees at a very reasonable rate last year to help us establish the show – we have increased them slightly to make the show sustainable but by buying in advance the adult tickets are only £1 more expensive and the children’s tickets will be cheaper,” said Councillor Bradley.
Tickets are now on sale priced £5 adults (£7 on the gate), £1.50 children (£2 on the gate), £12 for a family ticket (£15 on the gate) and parking will be free. You can also gain entry with five time credits and there are special rates for groups of more than 20.
Blooming Marvellous – BBC2 Television programme in which Chorley in Bloom is featured has been brought forward and will now be shown on BBC2 – Wednesday 2nd May at 6.30pm
Make a note for you diary, Learn how to plant fruit and vegetables, tasting sessions and much much more. Come along and support us, Free Entry, Everyone Welcome.
Chairman’s 2017 A.G.M. Report
We had a very busy, successful year in 2017 which was our 3rd year as a voluntary Group. I would like to thank you all for your hard work and support. We are learning what our strengths and weaknesses are and working together really well, with many new items and experiences added during 2017.
I thought it would be good to think again of just what we did achieve this year.
January
Not too much done other than checking everything was OK.
Weather not too good.
Although our team of knitters were very busy.
February
The bulbs planted in 2016 were appearing, although I was disappointed by the crocuses we had planted, blooming was very sporadic and they didn’t have the impact we were hoping for.
Bulb planting with Guides and volunteers at Sensory Garden, at Chorley Hospital following requests for help.
Chorley in Bloom took part in a Radio Lancashire Quiz and were the Runners Up to Lytham. We had fun and gave a creditable account of ourselves. Following this we were approached by the BBC2 Production Company and asked if we would like to take part in a new series called Blooming Marvellous.
We said yes.
March
Work started on our New Community Edible Garden.
The raised beds had been installed and filled with compost, the base laid for the Summer House and the borders of fruit trees planted. Now we can start planting out the vegetables, herbs and flowers.
This is the Bug Haven and Prickly Palace that still needs a bit of work on it. It will be lifted up on breeze blocks with the hedgehog’s home (Prickly Palace) at the bottom. The pallets above will be filled with tubes etc for the bugs to make their homes (haven) in. This is waiting for wildlife at the New Community Edible Garden.
April The Sensory Garden volunteers were thanked for their help with planting bulbs with an Easter afternoon party by the ward volunteers. The garden by then was full of colour and looked fantastic. The Chairman and CEO of the Lancashire Hospitals Trust came to thank the Guides from several Chorley units for what they had accomplished.
May
The Garden Society planters were replaced and replanted.
Barge Planter was planted up by Galloways Society for the Blind with support from Chorley & District Gardening Society and sponsorship from Chorley Building Society. The BBC2 production company filmed this and interviewed a number of our volunteers.
June
We took delivery of the Summer House for the Community Edible Garden on Preston Brow, a real asset. Thanks to the Metro Garden Buildings Ltd lads for the professional job they did in putting up our new summerhouse at the new community edible garden. Thanks also to Birkacre Garden Centre for their sponsorship support. Looking forward to using it now!
Ackhurst Lodge was replanted by the Intrepid Explorer Scouts and looked really colourful.
The Mormon Youth came to help plant up some of the planters on Chapel Street which is part of St George’s Quarter and were filmed by BBC2.
July
Wonderwall sponsors of the Living Wall around the town centre construction site designed and planted up the wall filmed by the BBC2.
The Judges from North West in Bloom came to look at our entry which was filmed by the BBC2 Production Company. Businesses on the route took time out to decorate up their premises and windows with flowery themes.
The Railway Garden was planted up again with begonias and silver leafed plants.
Chorley Flower Show 2017
Chorley in Bloom took part in the Chorley Flower Show where we raised over £1,000. The Bugs and beasties were added to the knitted picture frame and it was a great success there. Carol Klein and Chris Beardshaw both had their photos taken in it. In all over 1,000 people had their photos taken in the frame. The frame has also been used as a feature at a couple of weddings .
August
The Train by Michael Hull was returned to the new Cobbled area that was laid in St Thomas’s Square by Eric Wright Construction Co.
We helped judge the Best Kept Garden Competition together with members of the Chorley and District Gardening Society, Birkacre Garden Centre and Chorley Council.
September
Chorley in Bloom members/volunteers had our first visit from That’s Lancashire TV who filmed the New edible Garden with volunteers.
The official opening of the Edible Garden on Preston Brow by Cllr Adrian Lowe. This was also filmed by “That’s Lancashire TV” and featured on their local news programme.
The wild flowers in the border of the New Edible Garden were stunning.
Herby went to meet his friends at the Heath Charnock Scarecrow Festival
October
We received the grant from Network Rail to enhance Chorley Railway Station.
This will be done in Spring 2018.
We received the grant from Network Rail to enhance Chorley Railway Station.
This will be done in Spring 2018.
Denise and I started the replanting on Herby with echivirums and worked on the Edible Garden
November
November was a really busy month
RHS North West in Bloom awarded us the RHS Gold Medal for the Small City Category.
Following this “That’s Lancashire” Television featured Chorley in Bloom in their local news programme
We won 2nd prize in J Parker’s Competition which was a large donation of Daffodils. Most of these have now been planted, together with a large amount from Birkacre Garden Centre.
We had our own “Awards Presentation Evening” to reward our Volunteers, Sponsors and our Partner Chorley Council for their support. I don’t think anyone realised how much support we had during the year. The Leader of Chorley Council, Alistair Bradley and CEO Gary Hall were very impressed, the event was compared by Stephen Lowe who did an excellent job of keeping us all in order
Comment from Kieran Welsh – Head teacher Astley Park School
“A blooming marvellous evening!
“What a fantastic evening we had at the Chorley in Bloom celebration awards on Thursday at the Lancastrian Suite at Chorley Town Hall. Iris Smith, Chairman of Chorley In Bloom offered a warm welcome to the audience that was made up of the Chorley In Boom Committee; and all of the sponsors and volunteers of the various community projects and their friends and family. There were two special visitors at the end of the evening Mr and Mrs Christmas, who made a stop off at the Town Hall as they had heard that some very special young people deserved a special treat for working so hard and being good community citizens”.
December
We had the Charity Stall on the covered market which was a great success. We all had some fun and everyone worked really well together. We raised £60, our thanks go to Colette Hart of Anise and the Busy Bees Country Kitchen for their contributions which helped to make the stall look attractive. Astley Park School pupils came and helped on the stall.
The atmosphere was brilliant, it was not just about raising funds but about working together and raising awareness of our Chorley in Bloom Group.
Our volunteer base continues to grow with the help of people like Ken Rutter who involved the Scout Movement in Chorley on many of our projects. The Guides are also keen to be involved.
Our Facebook page has a good membership and faithful followers.
Gill has worked hard to get grants for our projects.
The whole Committee has worked really hard towards our goals and I can’t thank each one of you enough for your help and support to me personally. Thank you.
Our combined efforts and hard work were rewarded by the RHS North West in Bloom awarding Chorley in Bloom the RHS Gold Medal Award in the Small City Category at November Awards Ceremony at Southport.
This was our third in a row as a voluntary group. We should be proud of what we have achieved and strive for even more recognition next year.
Iris
5/3/2018
Community Edible Garden
This Community Edible Garden is a new project in 2016, and created as part of the RHS programme of Greening Grey Britain for Health & Happiness. Through this project we aim to provide access to good local food for all through working with local schools, community groups and supported by local businesses. The project has been chosen as one of the 40 projects supported by the RHS in the form of a grant and advice from the North West regional advisor Anne Gunning. Anne visited Astley Park (Special) school and Parklands High school for sessions on seed sowing and transplanting for the Edible Garden.
Advice was also sought from Incredible Edibles at Todmorden
Pupils at Parklands High school and Astley Park (Special) school sowing seeds and pricking out seedlings in preparation for planting at the Edible Garden with Anne Gunning from the RHS.
