Sidmouth In Bloom has continued its work throughout the pandemic, and is currently preparing for its participation in the Chelsea Flower Show this autumn, as well as making the town look beautiful. Its chair, Lynette Talbot, has provided this report and photos for Sidmouth Nub News.

Sidmouth in Bloom (SIB) commenced its 2021 preparations last October as designs and orders for seeds and plants needed to be done, including orders for the town's baskets and troughs.

The colour theme for this year is: red, blue, yellow. The team also retrieved perennial plants from 2020 displays to be kept over winter for reuse.

It is the 50th Anniversary for Sidmouth in Bloom's entry into the RHS 'In Bloom' competition, which now puts more emphasis on 'Communities' and the 'Environment' with 'Horticulture' still at its core.

SIB's current committee commenced in 2012 and the group, including the town's various different volunteer groups, have won many awards, and showcased Sidmouth with a display garden at the BBC Gardener's World live in 2015 gaining a Silver Gilt Award.

This year will be no exception, with a share of the South West in Bloom garden design under the Grand Floral Marquee at Chelsea Flower Show. Two 3-D Floral elephant sculptures will be on display at Chelsea in September: a third will be situated at the entrance to Regent's Park, London from May. We are being assisted in our work by the team at London Royal Parks using our designs.

Making Sidmouth look beautiful in 2021

This year's 3-D floral sculptures will be displayed in the Triangle and Blackmore Gardens. The new designs will be planted up in May for display in June, with a new carpet bedding design celebrating SIB's fiftieth year on the raised bed in the Triangle.

The Sensory Garden is starting to mature and work continues to maintain it for the benefit of the community. SIB has now planted three trees as part of the RHS 'Roots of Remembrance' trail and only the 'Paul's Scarlet' Hawthorn needs a sponso,r with a £100 donation to cover costs of the tree and remembrance plaque to Sidmouth in Bloom. Donations would also be welcome for two more benches between the tree beds.

Connaught Gardens' sunken gardens will be another floriferous display with plants grown by SIB mostly from seed. We will be encouraging schools to design the schools' borders this year.

SIB is also involved in the Ham Restoration Project with Sidmouth Town Council and other volunteer groups led by Louise Cole. This is a exciting venture to keep improving the Ham recreation and activities area.

SIB's sustainable planting by the East Ham car park border (East Street) is starting to show its spring display. The Blackmore Corridor by the Library is also starting to show spring colour.

At the moment, pot scrubbing and watering perennials are being done. SIB follows Health and Safety guidelines due to Covid restrictions. This has hindered our 'Friends Meetings' and social contact.

SIB is hoping to have a Summer Floral Competition and a Town Open Gardens Event. Entries will be sought in the near future.

SIB welcomes new keen volunteers who would like to join the group on Thursday mornings to help with weeding, potting on plants and planting.

All our work is made possible by the support of Sidmouth Town Council and the Keith Owen Fund, together with other town sponsorships.

All enquiries: [email protected], or 01395 578081 Lynette Talbot.