Cleveleys Town Centre Group and the Care for Cleveleys volunteers have been paying particular attention to the gateways to town. We want visitors to arrive with a great impression, thinking what a lovely time they’ll have during their visit. One of the things we’ve done in 2024 is making a new flowerbed welcome to Cleveleys!
The towns two long-stay car parks flank Derby Road. Motorists leaving their cars then pass through the bus station, so it’s a major arrival point for visitors from near and far. In 2023 we installed new big planters near the car park and at the bus station. Earlier this year we planted new trees along the grass verge of the car park.
At the end of April a group gathered to decide on the shape and exact position/size of the flowerbed. Then a week or so later, on 2 May 2024, the volunteers gathered for a day out, digging in the sun!
Making a New Flowerbed Welcome to Cleveleys
Thanks go to the engineering team at Wyre Council for a donation of wooden groyne boards. They’d been pre-cut off site to allow for speedier installation. With the shape cut the wooden border boards were positioned and fixed.
Then the turf was turned and dug. It took an additional 20 bags of peat-free top soil to improve the mix and bring the soil level up slightly.
Next the beach-style, nautical-themed decorations were added. Breakwater style wooden posts could be installed, along with recycled rope trim. A volunteer found it on the beach while out litterpicking. Our pals at Balfour Beatty came up trumps once again with another load of rock off-cuts. These are the bits that they can’t use in the Wyre Beach Management Scheme, currently underway right now. They’re perfect for creating a beachy, natural look.
Planting the Flowerbed
With the hard landscaping in place the plants came next. Very little money has been spent on plants – and all of it selected for hardiness in the harsh marine environment. A volunteer had kindly donated large size phormiums – a big expense saved! Other people donated Hebe, rosemary and native geraniums. Hydrangeas do notoriously well at the coast. Our three specimens were snapped up at a bargain price, being sold off at a garden centre. Curry plants were bought – while Sedum Autumn Joy were propogated from ‘Chelsea Chop’ cuttings!
Some summer flowering mesembryanthemums and additional nautical decorations finished it off. With some sun and water and a bit of time we’ll have certainly made a new flowerbed Welcome to Cleveleys!
Creating Biodiversity
This grassy car park verge has the potential to become home to many species of plants and insects. We’ll add driftwood from the beach and pebbles dug from local gardens to create insect habitats. Our new saplings will attract a host of bird and insect species.
We’re working with Wyre Council to change the mowing regime. With a neat border around the car park and pavement we’ll leave the grass to grow under the trees. Local school children will record the species that live there now – and how it changes.
Cleveleys In Bloom is planning to sow seeds to increase the existing variety of wild flowers which already grow in the grass. And later in the year we’ll be underplanting the trees with spring bulbs. These will provide nectar for early insects and bees. Plus a warm and cheerful welcome to us humans!
Everyone Welcome to help with Cleveleys In Bloom 2024!
Please follow what we do (and join in) on our Care for Cleveleys Facebook page. We post photos there of every activity, including events and meetings for people to join in. It’s great fun and a good way to get out and about and make new friends. Why don’t you join in and give it a go!
Thanks go to Wyre Council who provide an annual grant to the town to support our In Bloom entry. It makes a big difference to what we’re able to do.
But everything costs such a lot of money and it’s nowhere near enough for the plans that we’ve got!
So the Care for Cleveleys team run various fundraising projects throughout the year including the £3 a month campaign. All proceeds go to making Cleveleys look lovely.
Thankyou
The intention is for Cleveleys to keep blooming! We want it to continue as an attractive destination for visitors as well as being a wonderful place to live.
We’d particularly like to thank everyone who is really embracing the spirit of Care for Cleveleys. It’s encouraging to see so many helping out and really helps to encourage volunteers to do more.
In this project we would particularly like to thank the following:
- Wyre Council for donating wooden boards
- Balfour Beatty for donating rock pieces
- Kevin, John Cottam and John Grayson, Richard and Andy for doing the hard work. Plus Debra, Jane, Aaron and Keith on the day.
- Little Alan for finding a long length of rope on the beach
- Moira for donating the phormiums, Elaine, Keith, Jane and Donna for donating other plants, plus Patrina and Elaine for growing seedlings.
- Derek for donating a buoy found on the beach 😉