Grimsby Rotary Supporting Grimsby in Bloom

ROTARY CLUB OF GRIMSBY GRIMSBY IN BLOOM

Several members of Grimsby Rotary Club helped re-launch Grimsby and Cleethorpes District Civic Society over 20 years ago. One of the many initiatives was to create Grimsby In Bloom. This was separated into an independent organisation in 2006.

The overall aim of GIB is to promote initiatives within the community which improve the environmental presentation of Grimsby for the benefit of residents, visitors and local business. This is achieved in many ways.

Our club has been involved with GIB since then and over the years has provided committee members, treasurer, and financial help. We continue to have regular contact with the group and help out whenever we can.

However, probably the main thing we have provided over the years has been hands on help for their various projects, including help with plant displays, litter picks, tree planting, support at school projects, etc. Working parties are arranged quarterly and the club supports these as much as it can and is available to help at other appropriate projects if needed.

Since its inception GIB has supported local Grimsby communities, schools, scout groups, neighbourhoods, etc. who want to improve their local area. This would include road side barrier baskets, local planters, tree planting, site tidying and maintenance, creating garden areas, river cleaning, litter picks, etc.

Over the years their work has been regularly recognised by the winning of local, regional and national awards including many at Gold level. One of the main reasons for this success is the high level of involvement by local communities.

Five years ago GIB took over the old bowling green pavilion in the Duke of York gardens and now runs a community café, garden, outside seating area, poly tunnel, meeting room, and workshop from the site. The workshop is fully equipped with various tools for young people, scout groups etc. to use and learn basic woodworking and craft skills. A repair café is also operated from there by volunteers who can repair clocks, small electrical items, wooden items etc.

In the last few months GIB have taken on the adjacent site of the old bowling green itself on a peppercorn rent from the Council. This provides a much enlarged area. The initial project was to erect fencing to identify and secure the site and to integrate it into the existing area – this has been done with the help of a match funded crowd funding scheme. The fence is now erected and our most recent involvement was digging out/moving old bushes, bulb planting around the boundary and planting up large flower containers at the entrance.

The plan is to create a Community Garden in the enlarged area which will include raised beds, nature zone, poly tunnels, fruit and vegetable areas etc. This latest project will enhance and secure the future of the site.

Grimsby Rotary will continue to support GIB in its endeavours.