Liphook Community Magazine Winter 2021

WEEDING TIME
A weed is a plant that grows in the wrong place. This summer
Liphook in Bloom had first-hand experience of a broad range of
plants growing in the wrong place. There were dandelions - we all
know about them, they have very deep roots and are quite persistent,
but are a staple food for some wildlife. Then there’s green alkanet
which has pretty blue flowers, herb bennet with yellow buttercup
flowers, herb robert with pink flowers, creeping buttercup and
groundsel. They were all growing in our flowerbeds, but the most
prolific were the chickweed and oxalis. One of our helpers is always
happy to take home sacks of chickweed for her chickens - so it
does have some use! Over the years we have often had to deal with
chickweed, but oxalis has become a recent nuisance as it spreads
by explosive seeds and underground bubils. All these plants have a
place in our ecosystem, but not in a formal flowerbed. Liphook in
Bloom is working hard to encourage wildflowers in the right place,
as in our designated wildflower beds on the Millennium Green; the
Parish Council also have designated wildflower areas on the grass
verges outside Radford Park.
The summer started well, the flowerbeds and baskets looked wonderful
at the end of June and early July but then the weeds took over and
were literally choking the flowers that we had spent time and
money nurturing. One of the reasons was probably the warm wet
weather, but another reason was that this year we did not mulch
the beds. Usually we spread mulch over the beds after planting and
this helps to suppress the weeds. The decision not to mulch this
year was financial. Liphook in Bloom is a voluntary organisation
largely dependent on sponsorship. Due to the pandemic our funding
has been significantly less and just as businesses have been struggling,
so too has Liphook in Bloom.
We know that the community appreciate all that we do. It is lovely
on a working day when a member of the public comes up and says
thank you for all that we do.
For the first time ever, we are now appealing to you to help us
financially by making a donation if you can, however small.
Fletchers Field after
weeding.
Millennium bed before weeding.
Fletchers Field before
weeding.
We would be pleased to receive your donation either by
Cheque/Cash or Electronic Bank Transfer.
Please make cheques or transfers payable to Liphook in Bloom
Cheques/Cash should be sent to:
The Treasurer, 36 Longmoor Road, Liphook GU30 7NY
Electronic transfers should be made to:
Account No 29610360. Sort Code 30-93-94
Please state ‘Appeal’ and Your Name as reference.
Thank You
Millennium bed after weeding
We understand that you may not be in a position to help us
financially, but we are always pleased to welcome new members
and helpers. If you are able to help us in any way we would love to
hear from you.
Please contact us via our website: www.liphookinbloom.co.uk
or give Joan Holdsworth a call on: 01428 724903.
Barbara Miller
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