Bath Parks Department has an on-site nursery enabling high-quality plants to be produced with a low transportation footprint. The displays, particularly the hanging baskets on Milsom Street and throughout the main retail areas of Bath, have a real wow factor helping draw in visitors.
Good quality herbaceous planting is evident in The Botanical Gardens in Royal Victoria Park, as well as in Manvers Street car park. The latter was initiated and funded by Bath in Bloom and successfully softens the impact of the car park from the street. The planting is designed to be low-maintenance, drought-tolerant and bee-friendly.
Eye-catching planting turns heads in Parade Gardens with its two 3D bees among a sea of marigolds. Art has also been incorporated effectively with Mr Doodle taking over disused telephone boxes planted with seasonal bedding and a spectacular centrepiece in the Parade Gardens in the shape of a Bath in Bloom 60th anniversary sculpture. Trails for Jane Austen, the heritage of historic Sydney Gardens and local trees help boost engagement and awareness.
Bath in Bloom works with Bath and North East Somerset Council, Bath Business Improvement District, a number of community groups, It’s Your Neighbourhood groups, individuals and sponsors. Environmental initiatives include Bathscape, a restoration project for the natural landscape surrounding Bath. Volunteers are involved in surveys, conservation work and access improvements.
Also of note is More Trees for BANES (Bath and North East Somerset), a community-based tree-growing initiative. 11,000 trees have been planted since the project began in 2008. There is also strong school involvement, with raised beds for growing on the saplings in school grounds.
Bath has several large mature trees such as those in Royal Victoria Park, Sydney Gardens and the London Plane in Abbey Green. Regular tree walks are organised by Bath Urban Treescape. Many of the significant trees have nameplates with a QR code linking to information helping visitors and the local community understand the history and importance of the trees.
Bath Organic Group is based in a hidden but beautiful garden adjoining a larger allotment site. It’s an example of a community-led project growing fruit and veg for local people. Bath in Bloom has teamed up with Bath Organic Group to trial the growing from seed of several heritage vegetables to compare with modern varieties that they are also growing. Monthly visits to the local farmers' market raise funds from excess produce, increase awareness of the group and attract new members.