Calne in Bloom

We are pleased to announce that our annual gardens and allotments competition is now open for entries.  Download Form You can return completed forms to: Calne Town Council, Bank House, The Strand, Calne SN11 0EN or email them to us at  calne@calne.gov.uk If you need the form in another format, please contact us at:  calneinbloom@gmail.com If you would like more information regarding volunteering for any of our groups, entering your garden into our annual competition please contact Trudy King,  tking@calne.gov.uk

This time we have an update from our CTC Officer, Rob. As part of Rob's responsibilities, he plans and oversees Calne Town Council's open spaces: Rob with Town Mayor Cllr Tony Trotman and members of the Grounds Team at Hillcroft tree and hedge planting. As I write this, the sun is shining and there is a fresh smell of Spring in the air. Plants are waking up from their winter slumber and ever increasing colours are starting to appear.  Here at Calne Town Council, Horticulture is a central part of the maintenance works carried out by the Grounds Team. Over recent years and under the direction of the Amenities, Conservation and Sustainability Manager, there has been a refreshed view of how horticulture can vastly benefit not only the aesthetics of Calne but also the biodiversity within its bounds.  With increased investment in herbaceous perennials, many trees and hedgerows being planted and plans to introduce further planting to target seasonal colour, variety and to provide hab...

  In 2016, a stand of silver birch trees was planted in Calne Town Garden as part of the Calne Air Quality Action Plan with £2000 of funding from the Calne Area Board in 2015. Birch, a pioneer and an opportunist, was one of the first trees to recolonise Britain as the glaciers retreated. While birch rarely live for more than 80 years, the wind-blown seeds are able to create a woodland of its own; at least until competition from other species becomes too much. Fans of Ray Mears, the bushcraft specialist, will know that the paper-thin bark can be teased off younger trees to make tinder. The bark naturally peels away as the tree grows, leading to the local names of Paper-beech in Wiltshire and Ribbon-tree in Somerset, in later years the bark will crack and become textured. Flowering before the leafing out is important for trees, such as birch, which rely on the wind for pollination. Birch flowers present as catkins. The male catkins droop down and can release vast amounts of pollen, i...

 The theme for the competition this year is "The Incredible Edible Garden", with categories from 3 to 16 years old. To take part, please include the artist's name, age, and school on the artwork that is to be no bigger than A3 in size. Some of the art will be on display this summer at Calne Heritage Centre. For more information, please contact tking@calne.gov.uk