Herne Bay volunteers given £10k for lights

Herne Bay's most recent Christmas tree (photo by Alan Porter)

A  group of volunteers hailed as "stars" will make the town shine next Christmas thanks to a grant from a Bay county councillor. Jean Law, who represents the town on Kent County Council, is gifting the remainder of her member's fund to four community groups in a bid to make Christmas 2013 the best ever.

She hopes the £10,000 will help Herne Bay Town Partners, Herne Bay in Bloom, Beach Creative and the BayPromoTeam attract more cash in match funding to pay for a spectacular lights display. Mrs Law said:

"These are all groups I have worked with in the past and they work brilliantly together. They are all stars and I know that working together they can make up for this year and all the negative publicity. I have lots of ideas and I would like it to be like Herne Bay in Bloom, where the whole town comes together to make it great."

This year's tree was slammed as the "worst in the country" by national newspapers, and its replacement was also panned by critics. There were complaints about the lack of lights in the High Street and that crossover lights used in previous years were missing. Mrs Law said:

"I was desperately disappointed with this year's display and there was a lot of negative feeling about it. It was supposed to be so magical and it didn't quite work like that. But I know next Christmas will be better than ever, and I want to see really inventive displays, not just common or garden lights."

Among the ideas being considered are trees for over shops, projected images of moving snowflakes on buildings, and a mini forest of Christmas trees, donated from different sources. Mrs Law said:

"We also need shopkeepers to get involved and do their bit in brightening up the town and that's where Beach Creative can get involved. It is a long-term project. We don't need bling, we just need it to be magical for the children and it is a real privilege to be involved in it. I hope that this year we can invite all those who criticised us to come back and see what Herne Bay can really do."

Former town trader Geoff Wimble has also set up a Christmas lights group made up of residents and shopkeepers, and they are planning fundraising events.

Christmas Fair at the Bandstand

Beach Creative, Herne Bay In Bloom, and Herne Bay Pier Trust have all got together to bring you a fantastic Xmas fair, starting this Saturday 15th December from 11am, at Herne Bay Bandstand.

It’s a chance for the residents and visitors of Herne Bay to do something positive this Christmas and enjoy the festive atmosphere too.

Bring the kids along to see Santa in his grotto and they’ll receive a FREE gift! All that is asked is a small donation of tinned/non perishable food that can be put towards making a number of small Xmas hampers for the less fortunate in the area.

Herne Bay triumphs in Britain in Bloom coastal town category

Gardeners were growing for gold in a national competition to find the best blooming places around the country. Herne Bay was the overall winner of the coastal town category in the Britain in Bloom awards, and also harvested a silver gilt medal in the competition.

It follows their success in the South and South East in Bloom awards, and they triumphed over a host of towns, including Bangor, Great Yarmouth and Sidmouth.

Herne Bay in Bloom chairman Margaret Burns attended a ceremony in Guernsey with secretary Colleen Ashwin-Kean and received the award from Countryfile and The One Show presenter Matt Baker.

She said:

"We are over the moon. It is a great tribute to the fantastic support that we have received from our sponsors, local businesses, voluntary and community groups and schools in Herne Bay, and also a wonderful reward for all the hard work of the Herne Bay in Bloom team.

I am extremely proud of everyone who has taken part and am sure that because of our combined efforts even more visitors and residents will come to enjoy the colourful seafront gardens, urban meadow- planted verges, parks and open spaces and everything that our lovely town has to offer."

Herne Bay Times

the BLOOMING BEST: Herne Bay in Bloom secretary Colleen Ashwin-Kean and chairman Margaret Burns receive their award from television presenter Matt Baker.

Bay's renewal plan is 'second best in Europe'

I'm intrigued by this award. I've asked the Strasbourg judges for a copy of the prize-winning bid, but they said they weren't allowed to release it. So I've asked Mr Rynne of CCC for a copy - I'll share it with you when I get it.

---

Herne Bay's plans for regeneration are the second best in Europe, according to a European poll. Judges in Strasbourg voted the town's efforts into second place in the Council of Europe's Best Practice Awards for Coastal Towns. City council executive member for Herne Bay regeneration Councillor Peter Lee said:

"We've beaten off some strong opposition, both in this country and across Europe. That says a lot about the hard work and commitment shown by the council and residents to improve the town we all love. We are obviously very pleased to receive this recognition and look forward to building on all this good work in the coming years."

He made the announcement at a meeting of the full council on Thursday. The bid included the new Bay Sports Arena and extended Herons Leisure Centre, improvements to the Memorial Park, plans for a Coastal Park as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the exciting future for the town’s pier and the effectiveness of the Herne Bay Area Action Plan.

Jurors said they had been "impressed by the quality and innovative spirit of the council's Herne Bay regeneration project, as an encouraging practice for the regeneration of coastal towns."

Friends of Memorial Park, the Herne Bay in Bloom committee and Herne Bay Town Partners were cited as examples of strong community co-operation. Judges also took into account plans for a Diamond Jubilee coastal park. Top prize was won by the Ukrainian seaside resort of Yevpatoria.

This is Kent Friday, May 04, 2012

In Bloom outfit's confidence grows

Blooming lovely: From left, Margaret Burns (HBIB publicity officer), Andrew Babbage (RHS judge), Jean Law (KCC councillor) Colleen Ashwin-Kean (HBIB secretary) Jim Buttress (RHS judge), Derek Sidaway (HBIB chairman) and Chris Sears (Serco representative)It's going to be a long summer for the Herne Bay in Bloom (HBIB) team as they wait to see what judges thought of their colourful campaign. Organisers must keep everything crossed until September, after the judges visited on Thursday. Spokeswoman Margaret Burns said she was cautiously optimistic:

"It's always hard to say, but we got some very good vibes. We all felt very positive about everything. Even if we don't get a gold, I think everyone felt very good about what we'd managed to achieve this year, and we feel the town has been looking really nice."

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) judges hit the town on Thursday to be shown this year's projects by the team. These included the seafront gardens, town centre planters, Sea Street roundabout, Curtis Wood Park and Goldspot's pond, sensory and community kitchen gardens in the Memorial Park, Herne Infant School, the green burial ground at Herne Bay cemetery, and Eddington Lane allotments.

The Memorial Park was also judged separately under the parks and gardens section of the South and South East in Bloom competition. This was followed by a reception in the community lounge at Richmond Court, where Kent county councillor Jean Law thanked all the committee and contributors to this year's campaign for their hard work.

HBIB secretary Colleen Ashwin-Kean was presented with a bouquet as a recognition of all her hard work on behalf of the committee during the past year. The results of this year's campaign will be announced on September 7. The next event in the Herne Bay in Bloom calendar is the Giant Picnic in the Park on Sunday, August 28.

For more information visit www.HerneBayinBloom.co.uk, e-mail herne_bayinbloom@live.co.uk or call 07549 392916.

HB Times 21st Jul 2011

Host of opportunities to put town on the map

A town on the up – that was the message from town manager Chris West for councillors. Mr West said Herne Bay was enjoying notable retail successes, including the opening of independent shop Berries Cake-Away and the arrival of clothing chain Peacocks.

At a meeting of the town's area member panel last week he also reported that the Bay had one of Kent's lowest numbers of empty shops at 5.4 per cent. This is in stark contrast to Margate with 37 per cent. Peter Lee, councillor for West Bay, spoke about the recent departure of Currys from the town centre. He said:

"I understand that Currys moved out even earlier than their lease required as Peacocks were so eager to get in. I think that's encouraging for the town."

Herne Bay in Bloom was also on the agenda. Councillor for Heron, Ron Flaherty suggested that tall weeds being allowed to grow in the town detracted from the Herne Bay in Bloom effort. He said:

"What are the judges going to think when they turn up and see huge weeds all over the place."

Mr West responded by saying that weed spraying would take place before judging of the competition took place. Volunteers for the Big Clean in Herne Bay were thanked for their efforts. Many gave up their lunch to collect litter, pull out weeds and generally clean up the town. Mr West also outlined plans for a marketing campaign to promote the Bay as a tourist destination. He said:

"We've got a great opportunity, with the Turner in Margate people can be drawn to Herne Bay as well."

An advertising campaign involving train station billboards within an hour radius, bus adverts and social networking aims to encourage day trippers and tourists on longer breaks. It will start at the beginning of July and continue until mid August.

HB Times 23rd Jun 2011

Flower beds

HBiB Silver Gilt award

HB Gazette 23rd Sep 2010

HBiB Silver Gilt

HB Times 16th Sep 2010

HBiB success, and thanks

HB Gazette 16th September 2010

Town says it with flowers

Blooming bollards have brought a sea of colour to Herne Bay - thanks to its In Bloom committee. They installed flower baskets of red and white geraniums over the town’s bollards in the High Street, with help from city council contractors Serco and money from the county council, just in time for the South and South East England judges to call on Tuesday.

Wooden and three-tier planters were provided by Town Centre Partners. The city council provided plants and compost for the permanent town brick planters. Newhouse Nurseries at Dunkirk prepared the containers. In Bloom spokesman Pam Hobbs said:

“Everyone on the committee worked so hard. Shops and businesses have been excellent, too, as they have had to water the flowers.”

Judges started their inspection at the Appleseed Landscapes project at the entrance to Kent Enterprise House. They were then taken to Herne to see the village’s 700th anniversary flower bed; Herne Junior School; Beacon Hill; Sea View Road to the Downs; the Girl Guide centenary garden near the Kings Hall and then to Hampton via the High Street. Judges met foreshore manager Tom Hawkins at the pier then walked the seafront to meet town coordinator Chris West at the Beach Walk dry garden. He took them to see the basket tree in William Street donated by Denne Construction & Coplan, who also provided a water bowser, which is kept by Peter Goodwin, of Wilbees estate agents. The judges also visited Memorial Park before finishing at Richmond Court.

It was a race against time to get the garden at the entrance to Kent Enterprise House ready for the judges. Bosses only received permission from Kent Highways to use the area next to The Links roundabout on Thursday - giving them less than five days to finish the project.

Workers from the Appleseed Landscapes charity pulled out all the stops to complete their entry for Herne Bay In Bloom. Gardeners went straight to work digging and removed turf for the spiral design. Compost from Viridot; made from green waste from the district, arrived on Friday. By Monday it was all dug in, just as the plants arrived from council contractors Serco. By the end of Monday all were planted according to the design.

All that was left on Tuesday was for the edges to be completed and conservation features to be installed. Insect boxes were made by the Hambrook Marshes team and nailed to wooden posts around the flower bed. Homes for stag beetles were built using wood from Hambrook Marshes.

Get blooming

Competition time is growing nearer. Entry forms are now available for this year's Herne Bay in Bloom competition. The gardening contest is open to people in all areas of Herne Bay, with prizes of gardening vouchers for a range of categories.

Forms can be collected from the library or council office in William Street or by calling 07540 392916. The closing date is Thursday, June 10 and judges will visit on Tuesday, July 6. Anyone who can help with the competition or sponsor a prize should e-mail herne_bayinbloom@live.co.uk or call secretary Colleen Ashwin-Kean on 07540 392916.

It's time to "Grow for gold!" as Cllr Rosemary Doyle said at the recent launch by Herne Bay in Bloom. Another term in the punitentiary for the appropriately named Rosemary, methinks.

Gardening Competition

The gardening competition is one part (a small sprig, perhaps) of the Herne Bay in Bloom campaign. It's open to all Herne Bay residents and businesses. So if you live or work in Beltinge, Broomfield, Herne Bay, Reculver, Herne, Greenhill or Hampton, you can join in. There are categories for everything from a window box to an industrial estate, so everyone's in with a chance. You can put yourself in for the competition, or you can nominate someone else.

To enter, just fill in an entry form and choose your category, then return it by Thursday 10th June 2010 to any of these places:

• Herne Bay divisional Council office, William Street, Herne Bay
• Herne Bay Library, High Street, Herne Bay
• 97 Central Parade, Herne Bay

For all enquiries ring 07540 392916. The closing date for all entries is Thursday 10th June 2010, and judging will take place week commencing Monday 14th June 2010. There will be PRIZES GALORE, generously sponsored by local businesses.

---

These are the categories:

1) Private front garden - small or large
2) Window box or container
3) Place of worship
4) Public house or restaurant (frontage floral display)
5) Guesthouse or B&B
6) Design a seafront garden bed competition (based on a Herne Bay landmark) - 16 years and under
7) Communal (residential or non-residential)
8) School grounds
9) Environment project
10) Medical premises (hospital, surgery, convalescent)
11) Commercial (industrial or large retail)
12) Commercial (non-industrial or individual run shop/office)
13) Allotment plot

Herne Bay in Bloom

Britain in Bloom is one of the largest horticultural campaigns in Europe with the year round aim of creating a more beautiful Britain. Entrants compete against each other within their area and then selected communities are nominated to compete against each other in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) finals. Britain in Bloom encourages all to make the UK a more beautiful place to live through imaginative planting, cleanliness, sustainability and community effort.

With its beautiful seafront flowerbeds, and lovely parks, Herne Bay is frequently quoted on BBC radio as one of the sunniest towns in Britain. In 2009, Herne Bay won a silver gilt award in the regional South and South East ln Bloom Coastal category and a silver award in Britain in Bloom. This year we want to do even better and achieve gold.

How does it benefit Herne Bay?

• It provides a welcome boost to the local economy;
• Helps to make long-term improvements to the local environment;
• Increases civic pride;
• Regenerates run-down areas; and
• Encourages the community to work together to improve their home town.

The In Bloom Committee (a group of local people, sponsored by Serco and supported by CCC and KCC) will be leading this year's campaign and entry into the regional In Bloom competition. They will be hosting a local gardening competition in Herne Bay and looking for help from local businesses, schools and community groups to ensure Herne Bay really is fully in bloom to welcome the judges and visitors to the town.

If you are a local business, group or resident and would like to help, contact Colleen Ashwin-Kean for more information:

t: 07540 392 916
e: herne_bayinbloom@live.co.uk