We are a group of volunteers, mostly retired but with some varying ages, who initially came together in 2022 to improve planting in key areas in the village. We started with four large flower beds by Wordsley carpets, took over planting near the Co-op, & started to help our local primary school to improve their grounds. The group then began working on several areas of the Gables, a sheltered housing scheme, & became more known throughout the village following a number of plant sales & involvement in a local Heritage Day to encourage volunteers. In 2023, we were allocated three fountain planters from the council & made plans for entering the RHS In Bloom competition in 2024. We have always had fantastic support from a local business called Decormar, therefore when council funding cuts were announced, we made the decision to approach other business in the village to see if they could help us. The response has been amazing! Not only were we able to purchase some barrier planters for the railings, but due to a crowdfunder, we bought a seating planter for the preccinct - which was generously matched by a further sponsor. Since then, group members have sourced and prepared pallet wood to build recycled planters and attached further upcycled planters to enhance the displays scross the village. Due to having knowledgable gardeners in the group, further work was completed at the Gables to create and improve flower beds in various parts of the grounds. Friends have been made here with many of the residents and questionairres led to an outdoor vegetable patch & small greenhouse on the patio. This year, work also started at our local church, which we are keen to further develop next year. We are extremely proud to have had so much support from our community, businesses across the area and continued help from Dudley council's Greencare services. Support has also come in the form of an area to place a greenhouse, offers from local restaurants to hold ticketted events, generous donations from some of our local plant nurseries, help promoting our activities through a local charity and support during our recent RHS assessmenet via the community centre. Our local pub, the Horse and Jockey, kindly hosted a presentation evening with the Mayor & has included us in WHVP meetings. Following a recent 'Tidy up Day', we met further volunteers & have now also formed relationships with local schools & groups following a recent competition to encourage gardening.
