Forest ready to showcase its floral displays
Forest is showcasing its flower power to two judges from Britain in Bloom today, as the parish begins a busy few days of floral activities.
As well as the national competition, the parish is holding its flower festival each day from today until Sunday between 10am and 4pm, with Forest Church and its surrounds blossoming in time for both events.
The festival’s theme is The Gift of Water, with displays in and around the church, aiming to show how water is important to island life. As well as the flowers, a range of family-friendly arts and crafts, as well as food and drink, will be available on each day of the festival.
Britain in Bloom judging begins this morning at 9am at the Forest Douzaine, and sees the judges visit displays at 10 different locations including the primary school, Forest Methodist church and Le Gouffre. They are being driven to each area in a car sponsored by parish garage Jackson’s.
Floral Forest chairwoman Sarah Plumley said work to prepare the parish for the judges’ visit had been taking place since the start of the year, when the group found out it was to represent the island in Britain in Bloom.
However, she said that the intensity of preparations had stepped up a notch in the last week.
‘There are only four of us in the group but thankfully we have been assisted by members from St Peter’s floral group which has been a big help,’ she said.
‘The judges that are coming over this year have never visited Guernsey before I don’t think, all of what they see will be new to them so we have to make sure everything is perfect.’
She was looking forward to showing the judges each section of the parish’s display, but saved a special mention for some hanging baskets outside Forest School that were made by pupils.
‘It shows that everyone gets involved with making the parish look nice, the children did a wonderful job, I’m sure the judges will love them.’
Forest churchwarden Linda Archard said that holding the flower festival so that it coincided with the judging made sense.
‘It will allow everyone to see the church at its absolute best,’ she said.
She added that the theme of the gift of water was chosen because of the variety of ways in which it could be demonstrated via floral displays in and around the church.
‘We’ve got one showing water being used industrially, one for water sports, one for winter sports, one for cooking and cleaning.
‘We also thought it was an apt theme with the role water plays in helping flowers grow.’
