The Buds

Barrow in Bloom was just beginning to bud in late 2018 with Nick Thomas and I getting together to see if we could cut back the over-growing greenery from some of the more well-used paths around the village whilst also collecting any discarded litter in the local area. We approached the Parish Council to see if they knew of any other like-minded groups doing anything similar, but nothing seemed to be set up. The councillors, all volunteers themselves, were happy to help and wished us good luck with our plans.

After we put out a call for volunteers, by February 2019, we had eight people joining us. Initially, we called ourselves ‘Snippers & Pickers’ and met every two weeks. Most of the areas we first identified as needing some attention we still look after today, only now the tasks seem far easier; maybe due to the years we’ve been cutting back branches, brambles and ivy, but also due to the increase in the number of volunteers coming along to help – now we regularly get 12-15 per task.

Our first Great British Spring Clean was in March 2019 with four events supported by many residents including children from Hall Orchard School who held their own event around the school. A few months later we were asked if children could join in on a regular basis at weekends. We decided this was a good time to split the team into two groups. The ‘Snippers’ became Barrow Footpaths Group, and the ‘Pickers’ became Barrow Community Litter Picking Group. This was the start of weekend litter picking events which went all around the village with our younger residents collecting bags and bags of rubbish. All these weekend events finished at The Soar Bridge Inn, with the then landlords, Amy and Rob, opening early for the children to enjoy a well-earned drink (of juice) and biscuits.

Both groups had to take breaks due to COVID restrictions in 2020 and 2021. Unfortunately, the family weekend groups did not restart, but both adult groups continued and have gone from strength to strength, so much so that other new groups and project teams looking after specific green spaces in the village have been formed. If you are interested in joining in but are not sure where to start, take a look at the table below to see what’s happening when and contact Annette Richardson for more information at: Barrowinbloom@gmail.com

We are fortunate in the support from our partner groups. As well as Barrow Parish Council we now work in partnership with Charnwood Borough Council, The Canal and River Trust, and East Midlands Railways. More about all of that in future articles.

Annette Richardson