Another ‘Golden’ victory for Melksham!

MELKSHAM returned triumphant from the South West in Bloom awards in Yeovil  last week – winning Gold for the second year in a row.

The news has thrilled the team of volunteers who worked  tirelessly for months, making sure the town looked its best.  Chair of the South West in Bloom Melksham team, Kathy Iles said, “It was terrifying waiting for the news – there was a lot more pressure this time as we had already won the Gold last year. We had to keep it! When they said ‘Melksham Gold’ we were just so elated. It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work in that heat – it nearly killed us this year. Then there were the thunderstorms –  working out in all weathers – we are ‘blooming mad’!

“Thank you to everybody who got involved, no matter how big or small the contribution – it all helped us to win the Gold again. We don’t do this for us, we do this for the community and for them to enjoy Melksham in bloom every year.”

Fellow member of the South West in Bloom Melksham team, Terri Welch added, “Thank you particularly the shop keepers who made such an effort to look after the plants outside their shops and decorate their windows – that’s important.”

There was also ‘blooming’ good news for the Melksham entrants in the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ categories. The Waitrose upcycled flower garden, Riverside Walk Restoration Project, Shaw C of E Primary School, Conigre Mead Nature Reserve, Primrose Drive Nature Area, and Melksham Mobile Home Park were all awarded with an ‘Outstanding’.

Bowerhill Residents Action Group (BRAG) also achieved an ‘Outstanding’ award for their picnic area, making it five years in a row for the team.

Entering the competition for the first time, pupils and staff at Forest & Sandridge Primary School were awarded with a ‘Thriving’ for their efforts.

Brookside Care Home also walked away with a  Gold award at the ceremony for their entry in the ‘business, leisure and tourism’ category.

The Melksham ‘Bloom’ committee is now busy preparing for the 2019 entry, which will have a medieval theme to coincide with the 800th anniversary celebrations of the town’s Market Charter. Plans and ideas will be discussed at the group’s AGM on Tuesday 6th November at 7pm at the Town Hall. 

The team is looking for more people to get involved with the group’s efforts next year as they go for their third Gold award in a row. “We need to involve the young people of Melksham, currently it’s predominantly older people on the team, but it’s their future, so they need to be involved too,” said Terri.

Kathy added, “If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty and being out in all weathers, then we would love to see you at the AGM  – you don’t have to be a gardener, people of all skill levels are welcome.”