With Newland Street now ablaze with colour, decorated with hanging baskets, troughs and flower towers, the town is really looking at its best.
But for one person, there’s another reason to crack open the champagne and that’s Jim Drake of Hanging Gardens Nursery at Writtle. Jim supplies and maintains the floral decorations placed by Witham In Bloom and at the prestigious Hampton Court Flower Show – reckoned to be the most important after Chelsea – he won a silver gilt award for his exhibitions.
Although the hanging baskets appear on lamp posts in early summer, the full effect does not really become apparent until July but the work at Hanging Gardens starts well before that when the baskets are planted up during the winter and kept under glass until they are ready to be displayed. At the nursery, each basket receives special loving care to ensure that it is in peak condition before being put on display.
For the people of Witham, Jim’s efforts are plain to see – and a splendid sight it is indeed.
“This is a tremendous achievement for Hanging Gardens and we congratulate Jim and his team on this splendid award,” said Annie Northfield, WIB organiser.
Jim Drake and his team are one of the foremost suppliers of hanging baskets in Essex and are responsible for superb floral decorations all over the County including the centre of Colchester and at the Essex County Cricket Ground.
Witham In Bloom manages the whole process and works with commercial sponsors, shops, offices and the Town Council to provide top quality floral displays throughout the town. Last year, all the baskets were replaced and it worked in partnership with the Town Council so that the cost of the baskets was met by the Council leaving the Group to get on with arranging the displays.
NOTE:
For more information about Witham in Bloom call Annie Northfield on 01376
517527
