For many years we have taken part in the Britain in Bloom competition, and in 2011 we were successful in gaining two “Thriving” awards : for the Conservation Area in the Community Category, and for Pathfields as a Conservation Project. Also Fore Street won the Silver Award for “Best Street in Plymouth”.
We have two very different areas to look after: our streets and our green spaces.
Our streets were planned in Norman times, and no provision was made for front gardens, but residents display hanging baskets and window boxes, and the Civic Association has provided twelve troughs and seven poles with baskets. Though we lack front gardens, we have hidden gardens, and the highlight of our gardening year is when we open these gardens to the public. For the last 16 years, on the Sunday after our Lamb Feast in June, we have up to 1000 people walking through gardens big and small in Plympton St Maurice. This year we had 35 gardens open to the public in what we believe to be the biggest event of its kind in the South West. St Vincent’s Nursing Home provides teas in their garden, Morris Men entertain, there is a plant sale, and we sponsor in the Guildhall the Summer Exhibition of the Plympton Painting Group.
Among visitors to our Hidden Gardens in 2011 was the panel of the BBC Gardeners Question Time. The following Monday we hosted the programme in a packed Guildhall, an evening we will long remember.
Very important to us are our green spaces. To the south is Barn Meadow, which will be included in the projected Saltram Country Side Park, giving added protection to the backdrop to the Conservation Area. Otter Nurseries, who give us much appreciated sponsorship, have donated a seat for Barn Meadow.
A green space in the heart of the ancient borough is the motte and bailey castle. We are working to bring back to the Castle Green a set of swings, and hope to have good news to report shortly. Next to the castle is the cenotaph, restored at the Civic Associations expense, where Plimpton’s annual Service of Remembrance is held
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To the north is Pathfields. This is unique among Plymouth’s parks in its historic past and n how the community works with the City Council to provide an amenity enjoyed by many. We have designed and set up interpretation boards to explain how aim to create sustainable environments – parkland, a woodland walk, a pond and wetland, copses and specimen trees. With help from local residents, a farmer who takes cuttings for hay, children and scouts, the residents at Closereach, the Pocklington Home for the visually impaired, and the Tavistock Taskforce, we have established paths, cleared overgrown and neglected areas, re-built dry stone walls, planted trees and native wild flowers, and encouraged wildlife with log piles, fitted bird and bat boxes.
Please come and explore our streets and open spaces at Plympton St Maurice – or just relax by sitting on one of our seats and enjoy the passing of the seasons!
Freddie Mills
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