Date: 14th June 2008 For Immediate Release

New Village Signs for Filby

On Saturday 14th June 2008, Filby's In Bloom Team erected a pair of new village signs on the A1064 Main Road entrances to the village.

The spectacular signs were designed and built by village resident Tom Green, over a period of five months. After many iterations, Tom chose to employ the Grebe symbol, often used by Filby in Bloom, as the basis of his design.

The signs were constructed in mosaic format from hand cut tile. Supporting frames were supplied by J&M Edwards Precision Engineers Ltd.

The signs were put up in good time for Filby's entry into the Anglia In Bloom competition. Judging will take place on Wednesday 16th July. Filby is also representing the Anglia Region in this year’s Britain in Bloom competition that will be judged on 5th August. The new signs can be seen during Filby’s Open Gardens Weekend on 19th and 20th July.

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Basket-case rules ban on Filby flowers

10 January 2008, 06:13

Its beautiful blooms and colourful floral displays have delighted visitors for the last 12 years.

But now the award-winning village of Filby, near Yarmouth, has become the latest victim of stringent health and safety rules after being told it can no longer decorate lamp posts with hanging baskets.

Organisers of the successful Filby in Bloom event have been told by Yarmouth Borough Council they can not put flower filled baskets on about 60 lamp posts because the old off-street lighting columns could fall over because of the added weight.

The council fears that if a crumbling lamp post toppled over and injured or killed someone, the authority could be sued for negligence.

But last night other councils in East Anglia said they have no concerns about the issue.

The Suffolk town of Bury St Edmunds made world wide news in 2004 after reports that the town had banned hanging baskets but even St Edmundsbury Borough Council now says it has no worries about the temporary features.

And Filby in Bloom, which has clinched the title of East Anglian's best kept village for the last 10 years, was informed that when its lamp posts are replaced in two years' time they may have to provide £9,000 to make sure the structures can hold the 20 kg baskets.

Although Filby is making alternative plans for road side displays - including two floral Viking ships - in time for this summer's Britain in Bloom awards, the unwelcome news has caused consternation in the village.

Adrian Thompson, chairman of Filby in Bloom, said: "We are disappointed by this news and it may have an affect on the judges.

"In the last 12 years we never had a health and safety issue over the lamp posts. The only problem we have had is when a yob pulled one down."

The Filby fallout follows a council survey of its off-street lamp posts which revealed that 15 per cent of the borough's lighting columns are in a dire state and must be replaced because they pose a risk to the public.

Mr Thompson said: "The borough council has used us time and time again to promote itself and has virtually given us nothing over the last 12 years.

"I think it is just not on for them to ask us to spend £9,000 to upgrade any new lamp posts to make them suitable for baskets."

Simon Mutten, borough council's environmental services manager, said: "A risk has been bought to our attention by professionals and we can not ignore it because if we did and something, however unlikely happened, then we would be taken to the cleaners."

North Norfolk District, King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough, South Norfolk District and Norwich City councils all said that lamp posts were regularly inspected but no problems about hanging baskets had been reported so far.

Other district councils said it was the responsibility of county, town and parish councils to maintain lamp posts in their areas.

©Eastern Daily Press, reproduced here with permission.

The residents of Filby, in Norfolk, are justly proud of their village’s track record of horticultural success. Regular winners, in their category, of Yarmouth in Bloom and Anglia in Bloom, the community won the RHS Gold Award for Best Small Village in their Britain in Bloom competition in 2002 and, once again, Filby are to represent the Anglia region in that prestigious event, in 2008.

Chairman of Filby’s in Bloom committee, Adrian Thompson, says…

‘Our aim has always been to make Filby a better place in which to live, for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors alike.

The secret of Filby’s success as a village has been the policy of enabling everybody to make a contribution in the best way that they can. There has never been a formal committee, as such. All participate in the discussions and everyone has a vote.

A Chairperson and Secretary are elected for the purpose of meetings but it is key that everybody is deemed equal and votes are cast and counted on an equal basis.

Every Saturday morning throughout the year, a team is assembled to conduct all necessary clearing, cleaning, planting and other sundry jobs to ensure that the village stays in great shape.

The sheer number and variety of the tasks undertaken during the year demonstrates the commitment within the village.

Its enthusiasm for the In Bloom Competitions and in the overall improvement to the fabric of the neighbourhood, in general, is self-evident.

A lot of activity takes place in our poly tunnel, during late Winter and Spring, where we grow on seedlings. For depth of colour, we concentrate on the tried and tested varieties of Busy Lizzies, Begonias and others but we do experiment, from time to time, admittedly with mixed success.

Based upon prior experience, we know what to order for baskets, tubs and established beds but for new projects, we order dependent upon plans made during the winter.

Last year we bought some sixteen and a half thousand plants for delivery in April and grew them on for starting to plant out in the second week in May.

One lovely aspect is the ever changing colours of the displays through the seasons as a result of the planning and the tireless efforts of the In Bloom team. 

From the early Daffodils, when the trees are still bare, through the Spring bedding, to the fantastic Summer plants in the barrels, baskets, boxes and borders, the village is a riot of colour.

Filby is well known throughout East Anglia as the ‘Flower Village’ and the hundreds of commuters travelling the A1064 between Great Yarmouth and Norwich eagerly look forward to seeing the return of the floral displays along the main road through the village.

The innovation and invention that goes into the planting of the often spectacular beds, at key points, are appreciated by all who live in, visit or just pass through the village.

Less visible, however, are some of the longer term projects undertaken by the In Bloom team. These include landscaping around the village sign, situated at the Pound, that provides a restful scenic retreat for passers by and, in conjunction with Filby Parish Council and the Broads Authority, access to the water has been improved by the provision of a boardwalk onto Filby Broad.

Amongst projects planned for the near future are an apple orchard featuring local varieties of this popular fruit and establishment of a wildlife garden complete with bird and bat boxes.

Filby’s commitment to the environment is further reflected by a ‘Green Village’ project. In conjunction with the Energy Saving Trust, the initiative will kick off with a ‘Power to the Parish Road Show’ at the Village Hall, early in the New Year.

The village has become so successful that it now features in an entertaining DVD, a case study included amongst Anglia in Bloom’s advice to new entrants.

Many people are involved and a great deal of effort is expended in organising fundraising in support of Filby in Bloom.

A recycling centre has been established and a regular income, from the collection of waste paper, fortifies the coffers.

A variety of events take place throughout the year which also provide much needed income – these include the popular quiz nights at the Filby Bridge Restaurant, Church events, plant sales, Open Gardens Weekend, the Annual Summer Fete and Fireworks Night.

These are supported by sales of Filby in Bloom items at the local Post Office, including garden apparel, postcards, calendars and those devilishly difficult quiz sheets.

In addition, the village is supported by sponsors, both locally and nationwide, who provide material support, cash donations and gifts for raffle prizes.

There really is a great appreciation by the community for the support it receives, for its projects, throughout the year. Filby in Bloom is grateful to its sponsors, for making it “a lovely place to be”’.