Keswick in Bloom volunteers have continued to ensure the town remains attractive to residents and visitors over what has been a difficult 18 months for the group.
But throughout the COVID crisis, members have continued to work towards the group’s aims of encouraging the improvement of the town’s surroundings through the imaginative use of trees, shrubs, flowers and landscaping.
Many planters around the town have been updated and now have water reservoirs filled up with peat free compost and volunteers have been using a more permanent planting mix with some seasonal bedding for summer colour.
For example the tete-a-tete daffodils were moved in to new mangers on the railings at Bell Close.
They have been giving spring cheer for more than three years and in the meantime, the mangers are planted with a mix of begonias and lobelia.
Volunteers have continued to maintain the box hedging Keswick sign at the junction of Chestnut Hill with the Hawthorns which has been planted up with its summer begonias.
One of the group’s major projects has been the development of the Lake Road underpass area.
On the Hope Park side of the underpass there is a stone seating area that volunteers built and it is shaded by a cherry tree. Then there are three beds on the town side, all of which the volunteers look after.
In 2014, they took over responsibility of the main bed when it was completely overgrown and in much need of attention.
They have since completely restored and planted what is a tricky sloping site.
This year it has been assessed by Cumbria in Bloom as part of the RHS’s national award scheme It’s Your Neighbourhood and the result is awaited.
The spring tulips from the Market Square pot have also been lifted and planted down at Lake Road and should give a splash of colour. They have been planted with geranium, cosmos and nemesia.
“Everyone except our plants has enjoyed the recent dry spell and we are always grateful to any business near our plants watering them when they need it so much,” said secretary Tricia Horner.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the group can send a message on Facebook or email [email protected]
