South and South East in Bloom
Helpful Hints 1
Getting Started
We know that lots of people really care about how their local environment looks, and hundreds of residents are already actively involved in making their neighbourhoods safer, greener and cleaner.
We also know that many people feel they do not know where to start if they want to make a difference but if you care about your neighbourhood and want to get more involved you can start your own, or join in with a local project.
The aim of this leaflet is to give you an idea of how to get started
What can I do as an individual?
- Put up a hanging basket
It can be really simple to make a difference in your street. A hanging basket outside your front door not onlycreates a welcoming entrance to your property but also enhances the look of the street.
When two or more residents have this same idea, the results can be very effective.
- Keep your front garden tidy
When you see a row of well-maintained gardens you can feel the sense of pride that the residents have in their street.
If space is limited you could use tubs, planters or window boxes to add a splash of colour in the summer. By using plants that flower at different times of the year you can have colour all year round.
- Keep it clean
Many residents not only keep their own garden tidy; they also help maintain the area directly in front of their property. If each resident made the effort to pick up any litter directly around their property this would make a big difference.
- Spread the word
Working together with your neighbours to do just one of these small steps can be a great start to making your neighbourhood a cleaner, greener and a more pleasant place to live.
What can we do as a community?
Firstly, identify an area that needs improving.
No-one knows a neighbourhood better than the people who live there.
If there is an area that you and your neighbours would like to improve the first thing you need to do is identify what needs to be done and how you are going to do it.
You may also need to find out who owns the land before you start any work. As a starting point we would suggest contacting your local council.
Here are a few examples of the sorts of things you could do:
- Organise a litter pick:
Litter picking can make a big difference to an area very quickly and is one of the easiest things to organise. Equipment such as littler pickers, bags, gloves and high visibility waistcoats may be able to be borrowed from your local Council. The council may also come and clear the rubbish you have collected.
- Create a community garden:
Getting together with your neighbours can create an area beneficial to everyone. You could try growing vegetables to share, or create a child-friendly flower bed, we can advise and help you get the best from your area.
- Plant trees and wildflowers and encourage wildlife:
This can be an easy way to increase the biodiversity and appearance of an area.
- Organise community events by groups such “Friends” groups or residents associations:
Community events don’t just have to about gardening, they could be bird and bat box making events, pond dipping, or carrying out wildlife surveys. Every event will help build your community.
- Plant some bulbs:
Simple things like planting spring flowering bulbs make a big difference to an area and are easily achievable when we work as a team.
- Adopt an area:
You may have carried out a litter pick and would like to take the improvements a step further.
- Maintain a local flower display:
Is there a planter or flower bed close to where you live? Would you like to help look after this display? This is a great way to ensure the planters in your neighbourhood look their best at all times.
- Get together to improve a local allotment site to attract new tenants:
Vacant plots on allotment sites become untidy very quickly and can put new people off. Getting together with fellow plot holders for a couple of hours can make a huge difference to the appearance of the site and also prevents weeds and seeds from travelling where they are not wanted.
Let’s do it!
After you have decided what you, as a group, want to do you will need to decide:
- When you will do the work?
- Who will do the work?
- How it will be done?
If you need any help your local council can put you in touch with other groups or agencies that may be able to assist or advise your group.
Above all you need to commit to maintaining any improvements. Sustainability is key – there is no use creating a wonderful project if no one is going to look after it once completed.
As a group you will need to decide how you will continue your great work. This could be a simple as organising regular litter picks or ensuring that any floral displays are watered.
Moving forward
Once you have worked on several projects you may wish to formalise your community group. This will allow you to apply for funding and grants.
Your group may also like to become part of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom “It’s Your Neighbourhood” campaign, which is coordinated in our area by South and South East in Bloom, please visit for more information.