Last week we introduced you to the In Roads campaign where the Advertiser and Great Yarmouth Borough Council are joining forces to help foster more community relations, to help make the Borough an even pleasanter place to live.
We touched on the services the Council provides to help make the area you live in cleaner and more attractive - such as street cleansing, waste removal, grass cutting and the constant battle against fly-tipping.
The appearance of the road or street you live in makes a great deal of difference to the way you and others view it - this week we look at how one community has taken a great deal of pride in where they live - and the neighborouly spirit this has created.
Cherry Road in Gorleston is a community of our senior citizens - 50 residents live in pleasant bungalows with a warden to provide help when needed.
In 2001 the gardens around the bungalows were hardly a ‘sight to see’ - weeds far outweighed the cultivated plants.
The In Bloom committee - the organisation that runs the annual competitions which encourage individuals and groups to produce prize winning hanging baskets and gardens - gave Cherry Road a planter, hanging baskets and some plants.
Resident Basil Field used this as the starting point to cultivate more plants and create new flower beds.
The effect was that more of the residents began to take an interest in their surroundings - just four years later the gardens were so beautiful that Cherry Road held an open day that attracted 700 visitors.
It has also won In Bloom awards - but the best part is the effect on the residents.
Getting out in their gardens has meant they have got to know each other better. It has given many people a real interest - so much so that individual residents like Bill Phelps have been inspired to create a prize winning garden in their own back yard - proving you need very little space to make an eye-catching display.
“The change over the last few years in the community has been amazing,” said Senior Warden Margaret Mollett.
“Just putting a few benches in the garden means that people sit and talk to each other and share a cup of tea together - they have gone from hardly knowing each other to becoming real friends.”
The extent of the friendship and pride in their surroundings were summed up in May when Margaret Farrow, from In Bloom, was the guest of honour who unveiled a new greenhouse bought with the proceeds of last year’s open day and other fund raising events held by the residents.
Already Basil and his friend Stan Brown are growing bedding plants in the greenhouse for this year’s display.
The afternoon was used as an excuse for many of the residents to meet in the community centre for tea, a chat, a raffle to raise more cash - and to take plates of foods to their neighbours who were to poorly to attend.
In Bloom receives funding from the Borough Council to help with projects like Cherry Road. It can help communities with gardening advice and even the purchase of basic gardening tools, water butts or compost - any group can apply it doesn’t have to be Council-owned properties.
“In Bloom has a class which encourages residents to enter their street for the competition,” said organiser Sue Hacon.
“It can start at as low a level as Cherry Road - with just one or two households putting together a hanging basket, but you would be surprised how that inspires other people to do the same.
“It sows the seeds of having more pride in your surroundings. It isn’t just about gardening it is about keeping your surroundings clean, tidy and litter-free - the most beautiful garden can be spoilt if it is full of sweet wrappings, or the grass needs cutting.
“We are asking people to make a pledge - it can be as simple as I will plant a hanging basket, pull up the weeds on my street, clean up the litter on my road, put up a bird box, recycle more, use a compost bin, get a water butt… there are many more and none are expensive or take up a great deal of time, but they can all make a difference.”
When it comes to help with keenly priced compost bins The Council’s recycling and waste minimisation officer Rob Cole says bins start from just £4. To find out more call 0845 077 0759 or visit www.recyclenow.com/compost
Sue Hacon is pleased to help with advice on In Bloom and how it can help your community - call 01493 650924.
In August Cherry Road is planning another open day - taking the time to visit will show you what just a little care and pride in your surroundings can achieve! Watch The Advertiser for details.