A little focus on one of the Vale’s prettiest villages

Surely one of the most beautiful small towns in the Blackmore Vale (please don’t all write in at once to protest because we are just obsessed), Shaftesbury seems to be perennially ‘in bloom’.

So it seems only fair to support this historic town as a key entry to the South and Southeast in Bloom (SIB) competition for 2022, after having been awarded Gold this time last year.

Needless to say, all hands are on deck, with every local business, shop and resident pulling together to create the greenest, prettiest vista once again.

“Our floral troughs and displays (of which there are around 150) will be put up around Shaftesbury on the Tuesday evening,” says volunteer and Vice Chairman for Shaftesbury in Bloom, Alison Harding. “These have been grown and made up by the hard-working volunteers and team at Thorngrove in Gillingham. The SIB watering team tend them two or three times a week throughout the hot spells.

“Volunteers maintain the Ivy Cross and Royal Chase flower beds, Angel Lane and Bell Street car parks, the library garden, war memorial, the entrance to Abbey View GP surgery and the bed by the police station. We also tidy the Shaftesbury Lido bed and pots, and recently helped Shaftesbury Abbey to maintain their crypt.

“This year we are asking all businesses create a floral window display, while pubs and cafes are being creative with their menu, adding floral drinks or cakes!

“As volunteers, we are constantly looking for fresh ideas to incorporate for next year’s competition. Anyone can join SIB, by sponsoring a bed on the roundabout or a window trough/box, give a few gardening hours to keeping an area tidy, or join our working groups. We would be happy to assist girl guides, scouts, DofE candidates who may like to volunteer too.

We aim to keep Shaftesbury Town in Bloom and ask everyone to help support us, by keeping Shaftesbury clean, tidy, litter-free and a lovely area to live.”

Our Shaftesbury hotspots

• The Botanical Candle Co has created soy wax candles since 2014 as an alternative to paraffin. Since then, the business has grown as a popular lifestyle store.

• Willow is a fashion and lifestyle store which encourages ‘Slow Living,’ focusing on ethical, organic, sustainable, recycled or made in the UK.

• Mine is an independent lifestyle boutique with two floors of shopping and a healthy online store.

Shaftesbury Library’s ever popular Reminiscence group is getting together on Monday 4 July from 2.30–3.30pm to create a map of the shops and businesses in Shaftesbury over the last century. You are invited to pop along and share experiences of individual shops past and present. Tea and cake will be served. To book in advance call 01747 852256.