SKIPTON'S hard working volunteers who make up the town's 'in bloom' group work hard to make the place look nice and colourful for residents and visitors alike, and they are after more help. Lesley Tate reports.

IT is easy, as you walk around Skipton, to take many things for granted. Every year, from spring through to autumn, a transformation takes place as the town is brightened up with hanging baskets, colourful narrowboat planters, barrels and impressive triple-tiered displays.

Along The Bailey and other approach roads, thousands of daffodil and crocus bulbs provide a dramatic display at the entrances to the town.

In the bus station barrier planters are filled with an impressive array of flowers and foliage, together with large beds of sustainable planting and colourful flowers alongside the sandstone “Welcome to Skipton” sign.

As a town which thrives on its appeal to tourists and visitors, it is important that it appears bright and welcoming – but none of this work takes place by magic and it certainly shouldn’t be taken for granted.

At the heart of Skipton’s floral displays is a small but dedicated community group – Skipton in Bloom.

Originally formed in 2005 it became a registered charity in 2016. The group’s members represent Craven College, the Stepping Stones II project, the two Skipton Rotary Clubs, Yorkshire Housing, Skipton Gardeners Club, Skipton Town Council and the Skipton Business Improvement District (BID) alongside a dedicated team of local residents and volunteers. Funding for its many projects is provided mainly by Skipton BID with additional contributions from the town council, occasional grant funding, sponsorship and donations.

The original group was formed to make Skipton more attractive for all who visit, live and work in the town, but it also aims to stimulate horticultural interest with local schools, groups and individuals and to encourage local pride. When it started 12 years ago, much of the work was done by a small group of volunteers who took care of the planting and hanging of baskets themselves. Over the years, as projects have grown in size, it has become necessary to appoint and work alongside local contractors in order to keep all the containers, baskets and barrels planted up twice a year and watered during the summer months.

The committee which oversees this work meets every six weeks or so to discuss the planning of its various projects around the town and to monitor the finances needed to carry out the tasks, while volunteer work days are held on the first Wednesday of every month to ensure the areas are well-maintained and tidy.

Alongside the twice-yearly planting, specific projects are planned from time to time to enhance particular areas of the town, often in partnership with other groups.

The Diamond Jubilee Community Garden on Petyt Grove, off Newmarket Street, was Skipton in Bloom’s first main project. It formally opened five years ago on the day of The Queen’s Jubilee and following a first phase of work completed by Craven College students and tutors, together with staff from Yorkshire Housing and some volunteers. A plain and dreary patch of grass was transformed into a tranquil and colourful seating area, with island-style flower beds, all planted to provide interest in each season. Bulbs planted across the grassed areas signal the start of spring.

Other projects included the town council’s Cenotaph Garden at the top of the High Street, which was redesigned and refurbished in consultation with the Royal British Legion to replicate a giant poppy with red and black planting, encased by a box hedge. The garden is regularly maintained and especially smartened up by the Skipton in Bloom team before the Remembrance Day Parade every year.

Thanks to support from the Rotary Club of Skipton and Craven College, over 25,000 bulbs have already been planted across the Town in recent years to provide stunning springtime displays. More locations are being considered to extend the planting this autumn.

The Skipton in Bloom Group is chaired by Cllr Robert Heseltine alongside Vice-Chairman Sue Warburton. Both are pleased with progress – but both are frustrated that the efforts of the group can be undermined by the anti-social behaviour of some.

Cllr Heseltine says: “The last year has seen more steady progress for the group, with some further exciting projects on the way. We’ve worked hard to not just enhance the floral displays around town – but to try and address general cleanliness”.

He adds: “Unfortunately, this good work is undermined by the blight of cigarette ends, dog dirt and general littering – all of which can let down the profile of our special market town. Despite this, Skipton in Bloom remains full of enthusiasm, optimism and energy for the future and we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that the majority of residents, businesses and visitors share our pride in our town.”

Sue is also optimistic – but recognises the importance of the financial support from the Skipton Business Improvement District. She says: “Funding the Skipton in Bloom initiative doesn’t come cheap – and sources of finance are not easy to find. We remain very much dependent on the support of the Skipton BID and the in-kind support from our partner organisations. Without that support I’m not sure where we would be.”

The continued funding from the Skipton BID for this year, however, will enable the group to undertake a new project to enhance the popular Canal Basin area with more planting and the associated refurbishment of the public seating. Plans are already under way for the first phase of this work and refurbishment of the seats has already been completed as part of an apprenticeship project for town council staff.

The ‘In Bloom’ group is always on the lookout for new members to join the team. Anyone who is interested in the work of Skipton in Bloom, either as a volunteer for the committee, in getting their hands dirty on an occasional work day, or to help with sponsorship can visit the website: skiptoninbloom.co.uk, email info@skiptoninbloom.co.uk or can follow the group on Facebook and Twitter.