Although the focal point of every year’s Wymondham In Bloom is often the stunning town centre displays put on by the shops and businesses, the work to maintain that coveted Anglia In Bloom Gold status continues the whole year through.

Plenty of thought has gone into planning the flowers that get used in the various planters around town. The team have been using a lot more shrubs and perennials recently.

This gives visual interest to the tubs throughout the year and not just in the flowering season. It also keeps down the cost of replacing flowers each year.

A lot of that planning is credit to WiB volunteer Lesley Anne Clarke, who uses her expertise as a professional garden designer to maximise the impact and sustainability of the town’s mini feature gardens.

With Anglia In Bloom judging covering multiple facets, far beyond nice hanging baskets in the summer, much of the work the volunteers undertake is focused on generally keeping the town spick and span.

And that includes weeding. And de-greening. A lot of it. Not that you’ll find the merry gang of Bloomers moaning about such things. The satisfaction of a job well done and a town centre to be proud of is what gets them up in the morning.

People often assume “the Council” has taken care of rogue moss, dandelions, vape stickers on bins or graffiti. Sometimes that’s the case, but in Wymondham Town Centre, there are actually three separate councils with differing responsibilities for each bit of concrete you may set foot or wheels upon.

The Wymondham in Bloom volunteers, however, look at the town in the round and indiscriminately tackle blight in all corners. They even help support businesses and residents where their property borders the public realm and its looking fabulous benefits the public too.

When volunteers work well together with residents, businesses, highways engineers, drainage specialists, street sweepers and local authority landscape gardeners, we all win.

As ever, we are especially thankful to our Gold Sponsor, the White Hart Pub, and the landlords Kieran and Kayleigh, for funding our supplies like our high-vis vests, watering equipment, compost, plant food and more.

The Wymondham Garden Centre must also be thanked for their contribution to the business floral display competition, which always brings high praise for the town’s businesses' lovely efforts to brighten up the high street.

The theme this year of 200 Years of Railways is sure to bring much inspiration from our two historic railway stations, who have made a particular effort to inspire visitors with their gardening this year.

Please do get in touch if you are able to help in any way or would like to come along and do some weeding, cleaning and pruning with us. Anglia in Bloom will judge the town in July and we will need all hands on deck. For more information email wymbloom@gmail.com or call 07941 514 766.