Where has the Summer gone? Not much sun and definitely too much rain, especially for the roses which are rotting whilst in bud. You really have to be a very patient person to be a gardener! Of course, when the sun is shining, we all forget how bad the weather has been.

            I am very pleased to say that we had a good response to our re-introduced “In House Garden” competition.  By the time The Beacon is through your letterbox we will have announced the winners. Our sincere thanks to Morlands Newsagents, Dales Florists, Horsleys Butchers and The Library for collecting the entry forms on our behalf. Thanks also to The Gazette for publicity and printing the entry forms – we really appreciate the help we have received.

            I know from people’s comments that they really do notice all the dedicated work our volunteers put into their designated gardens, planters etc. I do think that this year, it is all coming together and some of the back-breaking work is in the past as we try to make more of the larger gardens herbaceous borders with many varieties of perennials bursting into bright colours at different times of the year.  

            It would seem that some of the long bed near the traffic lights is to be demolished to make way for widening the pavement. This is being done to allow better pedestrian access to the new Lidl Supermarket which, after many rumours of its demise, is apparently on track again and hopefully opening before Christmas. I’m sure that any shrubs etc. that have to be removed, will be recycled by us somewhere else.   Sandra is still beavering away near Keld Head pond and is always happy to receive anything that needs a home. The new owner of the pond is tidying it up and it’s certainly a great improvement after all the years of neglect. It is so important to make a good impression whichever end of the town our visitors first see on arrival by coach or car.

            We were asked by the Tuesday Group at Potter Hill Methodist Chapel to accept a donation in memory of members who had passed away and it was decided that we would make the top shrubbery in Smiddy Hill a Memorial Garden. Since planting this up we have received a request from a resident asking if we would accept a gift of Spring bulbs, also in memory of someone dear. I gladly accepted this kind offer and consequently the bulbs will be used in the spaces between the plants to create a lovely display in the Spring. We are always pleased to involve the community in any of our projects and still hope that somewhere in that community someone is thinking about what they can put back into the town to make it a better place to live. 

Eileen Blakeley.