Amberol’s self-watering containers ‘invaluable’ for Britain in Bloom say Blooming Milford

Situated just six miles north of Derby, the village of Milford is often favourably compared to its neighbours in the idyllic villages of the Peak District. With the A6 and the River Derwent running directly through the village, buildings have been built into the hillsides of Derwent Valley, providing spectacular views of Milford and the surrounding countryside.

A village with a strong sense of community, Blooming Milford is a community gardening group set up in 2008 by volunteers with a passion for both gardening and improving the environment around them. After being up and running for three years, the organisation decided to enter the RHS Britain in Bloom competition in 2011, exceeding expectations when they won a silver award in the village category in East Midlands in Bloom on their very first attempt.

Jeff Gouldthorpe, a member of Blooming Milford explains, “The group was formed, not to enter Britain in Bloom, but just as a group of people who wanted to try to improve the village in which they live.”

“Once planted up, the containers need far less maintenance than traditional containers and really lighten our workload”

As part of their 2011 silver award winning entry, the committee and friends of Blooming Milford created a community herb garden that could be used by all the villagers to pick their own herbs. Each plant had an information label which explained how they could be used for different recipes and dishes. Planted in large self-watering containers from Amberol, the herb garden required very little maintenance and was a hit with both judges and villagers.

“We found out about Amberol’s self-watering containers when a representative from Amberol visited an In Bloom Committee meeting at Belper Town Council,” explains Jeff. “As we are run by volunteers who help out in their spare time, the self-sufficiency element of the system really appealed to us. We now find the self-watering element invaluable: once planted up, the containers need far less maintenance than traditional containers and really lighten our workload.”

For their first Britain in Bloom herb garden, Blooming Milford used two of the one metre square self-watering planters. However, due to popular demand from residents and to fit in with the 2013 theme of Edible Britain they then bought two self-watering half barrel planters last year for a herb garden in the southern area of the village. As well as planters for the herb garden, they also purchased a self-watering hanging basket for the front of the community social club.

“I would recommend Amberol’s products to any other group like ours; they are always good quality”

Following their successful first entry the group has continued in their mission of making Milford a beautiful place to live. In 2012 the group made improvements; acting on comments made by the competition judges they planted bulbs to improve the village gateways and provided more planters containing herbs and floral displays. To fit in with the 2013 Britain in Bloom theme of Edible Britain, Blooming Milford has also planted up a community orchard on a neglected area of land in the centre of the village.

Three words that the Blooming Milford uses to describe Amberol: 1. Efficient 2. Stylish 3. Durable

As well as community involvement and good horticultural practice, the Britain in Bloom judging criteria value entries with an awareness of conservation and maintenance issues which is greatly helped by the self-watering planters and hanging baskets. Blooming Milford credit Amberol’s self-watering planters as part of their success in Britain in Bloom, describing the level of service from staff as excellent and very helpful.

For the future, Blooming Milford continues to look at ways to improve village life and is looking at the possibilities of additional planters outside the community social club and the school. Jeff adds, “There’s always scope for more planters. I would recommend Amberol’s products to any other group like ours; they are always good quality and the self-watering concept has greatly helped us to achieve an almost self-sufficient way of working.”