About

Wimborne in Bloom is a completely voluntary organisation run by a small committee. Over the year our time is divided between organising the planting and ongoing maintenance of floral displays around the town, raising funds to pay for the displays and entering Regional and National In Bloom competitions to promote the town's attractiveness to a wider audience.

We need to raise around £20,000 a year to provide the plants, planters and hanging baskets. This money also funds a contract with a local firm to undertake the planting and maintenance of some 80 planters around the town along with the watering of all planters and almost 200 hanging baskets.

Fundraising is carried out throughout the year with the main events being the Wine and Wisdom Fun Quiz Evening (March), Coffee Mornings (May and November), Gardens Open Day (June), Duck Race (August) and the Charities Fair (November). A small grant is received annually from the Town Council and in the past from East Dorset District Council.

There is a close working relationship with the Town Council and the Wimborne BID. Members of Wimborne in Bloom regularly weed and clean the main areas of the Town and in return for this work the charity receives payments from the Town Council and the Wimborne BID.

Since inauguration Wimborne in Bloom has been a voluntary run organisation, becoming a Charity (No 1130046) in 2009.

Our Committee

The 2017 committee with Wimborne Town Mayor Terry Wheeler

The Wimborne in Bloom committee on 27th November 2017 at Anthony and Christine Oliver's house, gathered to celebrate 25 years of Wimborne in Bloom with Town Mayor Terry Wheeler and his wife Pauline. From left to right: Les Halton, Pauline Wheeler, John Allen, Julia Cornborough, Terry Wheeler, Richard Nunn (chairman), Anthony Oliver MBE, Susie Gatrell, John Burden, Mary Allen, Jean Hooker, Ann Burden, Chris Hooker, Peter Glancy.

2018

Our Aims and Objectives

Our Constitution

A copy of our Constitution is downloadable in pdf format by clicking here.

Our Finances

Read more about our finances here.

2017

25 Years of Blooming history ...

7th October 1992: Anthony and Christine Oliver, as Mayor and Mayoress of Wimborne Minster were invited to attend the Southern England in Bloom Prizegiving in Bournemouth. They returned to Wimborne saying, "If others can do it why can't we!"

27th November 1992: A public meeting was held in Market House, Cornmarket chaired by the Mayor and with speakers from Shaftesbury in Bloom. Wimborne in Bloom was born and a committee elected with Anthony as Chairman, Christine as Secretary and Brian Baker as Treasurer.

July 1993: The Town was entered into the Southern England in Bloom Regional Competition Small Town Category. The Judges commented, "Wimborne was the most encouraging new entry they had ever seen and congratulated each and everyone involved".

July 1994: The Town won the Small Town Title in the Regional Competition at only the second attempt and was also Highly Commended for the Best Environmental Initiative for the Crown Mead Gardens Project.

2000: Nominated for entry into the Britain in Bloom National Competition for the first time and came 3rd in the whole country.

2002: Last year of entry under Southern England in Bloom and won the Small Town Title for the third time.

2003: Marking system changed to awards of Gold, Silver Gilt, Silver and Bronze and the Town won the Small Town Title with its first Gold in July. It was also the first year of entry under Tourism South East.

2004: Town entered in the Champion of Champions Category on account of winning the Small Town Title in two consecutive years. Won the category with a Gold Award and this against others in the same situation across all categories. Anthony and Christine Oliver awarded an In Bloom Medal at the Regional Prizegiving Also nominated for entry into Britain in Bloom, result a Silver Gilt award.

2012: Nominated for entry into Britain in Bloom for the fourth time the Town won the National Small Town Title with a Gold Award. Anthony Oliver received an RHS Britain in Bloom Community Award in recognition of his 20 years as Chairman of Wimborne in Bloom.

January 2013: Richard Nunn appointed Chairman on the retirement of Anthony Oliver.

2015: Wimborne in Bloom received the Regional Chairman's Award and a Silver Gilt Award in the National Britain in Bloom Competition when the Town was entered for the fifth time.

2015 & 2016: Redcotts Recreation Ground was entered into the Park of the Year Category and was awarded a Silver Gilt on both occasions.

2017: On account of the Town's growth (6000+ inhabitants) Wimborne moved up a category and was entered in the Town Category of the Regional Competition, where it won the category title on this it's first attempt and Anthony Oliver's efforts over the last 25 years were recognised with the Outstanding Contribution Award.

2019

Our successes ...

Over the years since inauguration in 1992 the Town has won the Small Town Category on eight occasions, has been runner-up on three occasions and achieved a Silver Gilt award on five occasions. It has also been a winner of Best Community Involvement, Best Floral Content, Best Display of Gardens throughout a Community and Best Tree Planting Programme. In the early years there was an award for Best Photographic Record - a scrapbook of the year in blooms work - this was won on four occasions and runner up twice. See the full list of awards.

And what else we do ...

In addition to entering the Town annually into the Regional In Bloom Competition each summer Wimborne in Bloom stages its own Competition. There is the Adults and Schools Art and Poetry Competitions and the main 'floral' competition for all residents and traders - this includes a shop window display, best front and back garden, largest hanging basket, best Public House overall outside display amongst a number of different categories. Read more about the local competition.

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