COLUMN - Melton In Bloom with Marie Walters

We are always open to new people joining us in our activities; helping us to make Melton Mowbray a more colourful, cleaner and wildlife-friendly place to live.

We are pleased that horticultural skills are being passed on to youngsters via our annual Schools’ Competition, through the support of some very dedicated teachers, and that businesses continue to take part in our Gems Competitions.

However, we can always do even better, so please do join our campaign.

We now have a colourful new ‘A’ board, which has our contact details and a QR link to our page on Melton Borough Council’s website, which details all of our projects in the town.

So if you see the sign out whilst we are working, please do come along to find our more about us.

You can also e-mail us at [email protected] or contact us via Facebook under Melton in Bloom.

We have been very fortunate in receiving backing in various forms for our projects from many businesses throughout the years, and last week we were offered nearly 200 bulbs and corms by Boyes.

Although late in the season to plant, they were still viable, with some already sprouting, so our dedicated volunteers planted them all in the Heritage Garden at Parkside, within various borders.

We were given a mix of colourful tulips, golden daffodils, and some charming little anemones.

With all the other bulbs already in that location, we look forward to a very colourful spring.

Jobs for the garden this month – February is perfect for laying manure, compost and a bark mulch, before the growing season starts in earnest, and roses especially do like an annual dressing of manure.

The difference it makes to the health of the plants and increased flowering is quite significant, and adding compost will improve soil structure.

A topping of bark chips will keep weeds down and conserve moisture, whilst the soil is already moist from our very wet winter.