ian st matts april

Land clerared at side of St Matthews

Land clerared at side of St Matthews

In response to the Yorkshire In Bloom Judges’ comments we have cleared the old bushes and shrubbery from the north side of St Matthews Community Centre. The Judges looked over the overgrown area and suggested that some of the bushes had long since passed their sell by date. Councillor Angela Gabriel, Ian Pickup together with John Casey Parks and Countryside made an instant decision to clear the whole area and start afresh. Within two days of the Judges visit the area was attacked and the offending bushes were removed . See pic of present stare of this patch. It is envisaged that the area will be looking good and attractive when the judges return for their Summer appraisal on Monday 2nd July.
Our next meeting to plan for their visit will be on Thursday 3rd May at St Matthews. If you are interested in enhancing Holbeck join us, we meet at 5pm . All welcome

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Lunch with beeston in bloom

sharing with our neighbours

sharing with our neighbours

picture lunch with Beeston in Bloom and Holbeck in bloom together with the Yorkshire in Bloom judges Bill and Tim . Today Tuesday 3rd April the two seasoned judges viewed the efforts of the Two Community Groups. This viewing is our spring entry into the prestigious Yorkshire In Bloom Competition. Volunteers have worked hard over the past few weeks striving to spruce up our urban area. Planning ,planting, painting litter picking have been uppermost on the agenda. Both groups owe their existence to the tireless support and energy of local Councillor Angela Gabriel . She is chair of both groups hence the closeness of the groups and lack of either jealousy or rivalry. Angela is up for re-election this May and depite political alliances we all believe that she is the right person for the job. Fingers crossed both groups are hoping for favorable reports and loolooking forward to the Summer round of judging on Monday July 2nd. We are always grateful for support and volunteers so if you want to be part of a winning team contact either group.

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holbeck in bloom pics 1

Presentation to Holbeck in Bloom

Presentation to Holbeck in Bloom

Tuesday 27th March brought a smile onto the faces of Holbeck in Bloom volunteers. This was the day that a cheque from Santander for £500 was presented to them at The University Business School. Earlier in the Month a team of students from the school worked in Holbeck. They together with workers from Eversheds Solicitors and Balfour Beatty engaged in building, filling and painting two raised beds for the use of the local learning disabilities group ‘The Bridge ‘. Four tons of soil was barrowed into the newly built beds on the day. In addition to working on the raised beds they planted four fruit trees and transplanted a small willow tree from another site in Holbeck.
Santander presented the cheque as part of the Community Regeneration Scheme organised by the University school and Leeds Ahead. Angela Gabriel. Ian Pickup and Dennis Kitchen received the cheque on behalf of Holbeck in Bloom . Two other groups each received a £500 grant. Kippax Community Garden and the Wybeck Valley Project.

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Spring 2012

Posted by Voice of Holbeck in Uncategorized

On Thursday 15th March a team of willing volunteers including three ward councillors Angela Gabriel, Adam Ogilvie and John Hardy worked together to plant and hang spring baskets. Twelve floral hanging baskets were placed on the outer walls of St Matthews Community Centre. This work was in preperation for this years Yorkshire in Bloom competition. On Tuesday moring of the 3rd April judges will be visiting Holbeck to assess our spring activities as an ‘in bloom’ group.

They will be escorted around a set route to see the various works that have taken place over the past few months. Volunteers have been kept active and busy making Holbeck a more attractive urban area in which to live and work .

We are hoping that they will be impressed by the various projects that have been undertaken and the ones that we intend to set up in the coming months. Our next meeting will probably take place on Thursday 29th at St Matthews where we will make final plans for the route and any actions that need to be taken before the judges arrive . If you would like to pop in to help or find out more about our activities you will be welcome, we meet at 5pm.

Keeping our fingers crossed that our spring workout will be enjoyed by the judges.   

Summer Gardening Competition

Posted by Voice of Holbeck in Uncategorized

We are pleased to announce the two winners in this years competition.

                                                                                                                                                                     Below a picture of the best small garden

Below is a picture of the  winner category, containers and baskets.

Silver award for Holbeck in Bloom

Posted by Voice of Holbeck in Uncategorized, Yorkshire in Bloom and tagged with

Holbeck in Bloom has secured a ‘silver rose’ award in the Yorkshire In Bloom horticultural campaign, which encourages communities to  improve their environments.

We’re very proud of this, as this year was the first time we entered the competetion!

On Holbeck in Bloom, which had entered the urban communities section, judges said:

“Holbeck – like the phoenix from the ashes – is rising to the many challenges that it faces as an Urban Community.

“It has one of the highest levels of social deprivation in the country but the tremendous community spirit that we encountered shows a huge commitment to making sure that it is still a great place to live.  We would like to commend Holbeck in Bloom and their many supporters and partners for their systematic, well organised and planned approach to improvement.

“The many areas of new planting, the lovely good quality floral tubs and the features on the bridge are making a real difference. We admire and commend your cheerful determination not to give in to petty theft and vandalism and that your tactics are working. ”

Beeston also won a silver, so well done to them!