Jim Buttress, retired Queen’s Gardener visited Rainham this week to judge their entry in the Royal Horticultural Society’s It’s Your Neighbourhood Competition which is part of their wider competition Britain in Bloom.
Rainham was the only place in Medway to enter and was the bright idea of Barbara Strachan who went to the local vicar for support in getting the idea off the ground. Revd Nathan Ward of St Margaret’s Church, Rainham said:
“I’m no gardener but when Barbara came to me I thought it was a fantastic way of bringing the community together to transform the physical spaces in which our community live and work.
"All of the churches in Rainham got behind the idea both in time and money and decided we wanted to transform the area around Scott Avenue and Riverside School.
“The school have been fantastic at getting on board and are a real hub for that area in Rainham which can often be overlooked, so working in close partnership with them, their parents association and the local authority we have managed to transform areas within the school and in Scott Avenue.”
Jim Buttress whilst judging stated “Its fantastic – many people talk about things but here they have actually made it happen and have plans for the future too!”
Resident, John Stacey, said “ It’s marvellous for flowers to be growing where there use to be rubbish and litter. It’s the first time anyone as done anything since I’ve lived here”
Cllr Jan Aldous said “It has been hard work but a pleasure and very rewarding to bring the local community, Riverside School, Churches, Macklands Care home and other organisations together with Medway Council for this project with such wonderful results”.
Headteacher Mrs Kim Wilmer said “Rainham in Bloom has been a fantastic opportunity for children, staff and parents to work together to transform the space around the school and local community.
"Our varied curriculum offer focuses on developing life skills for all children including cooking and gardening using our fantastic school resources such as the Biodome and Cookery Corner.”
The results are officially out in September but everyone involved is hoping for a blooming success.