The FODS Trustees would like to share with you more judges remarks made by The Heart of England judges and how they arrived at Dunchurch’s remarkable score.
Here the judges are commenting on the Horticulture
Dunchurch scored 39 out of a possible 40.
Florals gave a high impact at village entry signs coupled with some of the 44 planted wheelbarrows
The theme was continued in the village centre where new striking baskets and lamp standards continued with the overall impression.
Much care was shown at the few planted areas with increased use of perennials showing thro.
The judges missed the wildflower area which unusually was right in the village centre, not normally a good site choice but the photographic evidence showed it had clearly made its mark.
Brown grass was the order of the day this summer, here though all was beautifully maintained.
Herb troughs are available for villagers and visitors alike to help themselves ironically the displays are so good that FODS think the public are reticent to harvest.
The sapling orchard installed by FODS not only has the makings of a special place in the years to come already supports diverse flora and fauna.
The small front gardens of the Alms House were charming and well kept
The Trustees of FODS would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped to make Dunchurch a better place to live in, work in and visit.
Our ‘In Bloom’ volunteers are second to none!
Our thanks also go to Dunchurch Parish Council for entering into the spirit of what our community wanted and responded with renovation/cleaning work on the village statue, re-thatching the bus shelter, the installation of the new lighting columns, funding the installation of the very popular new beacon on The Heath and part funding the village ‘in Bloom’ floral displays.
More wonderful comments made by The Heart of England judges and our score – Dunchurch scored 29 out of a possible 30.Environment
Utterly weed, graffiti and dog foul free, on the day Dunchurch
must have been the cleanest village in Warwickshire!
New lamp standards
and well maintained street furniture was the order of the day too.
The
recently cleaned village centre statue, the wonderfully restored thatched
village green bus shelter and the old timber Maypole replaced with modern
carbon (hope there are no thunder storms next May Day!) were all splendid.
The grassed area opposite the Alms House was a microcosm of Bloom itself.
Well maintained, perennials around the Cenotaph plus knitted poppies. Guy
Fawkes reclining on a bench, hands up for Dunchurch mural, a wishing tree,
the list is endless.
FODS efforts towards the installation of a Beacon
celebrating the Queens Platinum Jubilee.
Excellent interpretation
signage one including all the local village businesses.
New sapling
Orchard a celebratory Oak line planting, wildflower planting, almost zero
carbon footprint to their
annual floral displays. Coupled with bird
feeding stations and rain water collection facilities all pays real homage
to the natural environment.
The Trustees of FODS would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped to make Dunchurch a better place to live in, work in and visit.
Our ‘In Bloom’ volunteers are second to none!
Our thanks also go to Dunchurch Parish Council for entering into the spirit of what our community wanted and responded with renovation/cleaning work on the village statue, re-thatching the bus shelter, the installation of the new lighting columns, funding the installation of the very popular new beacon on The Heath and part funding the village ‘in Bloom’ floral displays.
The FODS Trustees would like to share with you some of the wonderful comments made by The RHS Heart of England judges and Dunchurch’s score
97 out of a 100!!!!!
The Judges said:
‘How on earth could this place in the past ever been described as badly neglected! This picturesque village (minus the traffic) was a stunning example of all things “Bloom”. Magnificent and diverse florals, quirky planters and planted wheelbarrows, well maintained grass, public art and a quintessential maypole and thatched bus shelter set the scene. Underpinning all however was the efforts of the bloom team, the Friends of Dunchurch Society. It is this group and their supporters in fact almost the whole community here who have pulled together enabling exceptional outcomes both in the environmental and community sections too. FODS are becoming legacy makers in this village and have well and truly put Dunchurch on the map, definitely a place to visit. A very well deserved Gold Award Well Done’
Dr Carol Miller & Roger Bache
The Trustees of FODS would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped to make Dunchurch a better place to live in, work in and visit.
Our ‘In Bloom’ volunteers are second to none!
Our thanks also go to Dunchurch Parish Council for entering into the spirit of what our community wanted and responded with renovation/cleaning work on the village statue, re-thatching the bus shelter, the installation of the new lighting columns, funding the installation of the very popular new beacon on The Heath and part funding the village ‘in Bloom’ floral displays.
The judges are commenting on the Community of Dunchurch and we scored
29 out of 30
Awarded GOLD and Best in Category
When it’s said the community if behind a project, it really is here. The list of those involved is amazing. The portfolio really showcases all that has happened in this village in a few short years. Covid did in no way dampen FODS efforts although they were disappointed about not attending a national event. If there is to be an exemplar of what Britain in Bloom means and what can be achieved by voluntary effort steered by committed people it is here in Dunchurch. The judges were told there is a palpable change within the community (for the good that is) as a result of the FODS efforts and this is easy to believe.
The Trustees of FODS would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped to make Dunchurch a better place to live in, work in and visit.
Our ‘In Bloom’ volunteers are second to none!
In 2021, we were delighted to take part in the RHS Community Awards and thrilled that our ‘Cultivating Your Community’ submission was one of only 5 voted outstanding by the judges from the 118 groups who entered the awards overall.
We are therefore delighted that this year, the RHS Britain in Bloom competition returns and Dunchurch has the considerable honour of accepting an invitation to represent the 7 counties of the Heart of England region in the large village category.
We are once again looking forward to working with other village groups, families and individuals of all ages on a variety of projects as we formulate our campaign to be voted Best Large Village. This really is a ‘whole’ community project and whilst we move forward with our plans, here is just a ‘backward’ glance at some of the wonderful creations that graced our village during our last campaign.
AND
To see Dunchurch in Bloom portfolio 2021 CLICK HERE
A beautiful message from Friends of Dunchurch - Video and music 2021.
Thanks to a great community effort, Dunchurch has never looked more
colourful. Click on this video to watch a short collaborative film
between FODS and The Dunchurch Pantomaniacs that celebrates the beauty of
our village. Hope you enjoy it.
Sue Protheroe 2021
FODS gardening group met yesterday at the Dun Cow conference room to discuss plans to Keep Dunchurch Beautiful 2020! All aspects of improving our village were discussed and a plan is now ready for action . If you would like to join our Gold Award gardening team of volunteers please contact us for more information . Our thanks to Scott and Ally managers of the Dun Cow for their hospitality !
Friends of Dunchurch, a charity formed on 6th September 2018 by like-minded residents who love Dunchurch and its heritage and wish to protect and enhance its environment in order to make the village a better place to live in, work in and visit.
CONTACT US
Email: friendsofdunchurch@gmail.com
Village Green House, The Green, Dunchurch CV22 6NX
CIO Charity Registration no.1203193