Speaking to chair of Oakham in Bloom, Sheila told Oakham Nub News about her ambitions for the future of the group and the enormous benefits she has felt first hand by getting involved. 

When Sheila moved to Oakham with her husband Steve three years ago, neither of them knew anyone locally, having never previously lived in the area. They have both joined multiple community groups, with Sheila taking part in Lindy Hop as well as becoming chair of Oakham in Bloom. 

Sheila has found getting involved with Oakham in Bloom has been a great way to meet neighbours and local people with a similar passion for gardening. 

Oakham in Bloom was originally set up 27 years ago to give back to the community, making Oakham beautiful season after season for more than a quarter of a century. 

Now, the group has about 60 volunteers on the email list, with volunteers giving varying amounts of time and work depending of the amount of spare time and physical capacity they have. 

Sheila was keen to assert the fact that there is no commitment for volunteers to turn up week on week. Instead, when there is a working party, Oakham in Bloom email their list of volunteers, with usually between 10 and 12 turning up to help at each working party. 

These working parties usually take place on a Sunday morning with some on weekdays, making it flexible for people who work full time or have limited availability. 

This week, the working group planted 1,000 daffodil bulbs (Photo: Oakham in Bloom)

This week, ten volunteers spent Tuesday morning planting 1,000 daffodil bulbs on the Osprey round-about, hoping to delight residents and visitors to the town every spring for years to come. 

Recently, Oakham in Bloom got in touch with residents of the Ladywell housing estate to ask if anyone wanted to come forward to help the group maintain the flowerbed. This was a huge success with neighbours taking on the care of the bed, commenting on how the work was a great way to meet the people that also live in the estate, creating meaningful relationships with neighbours. 

Sheila is a firm believer in the fact that 'grafting together forms friendships' in a more meaningful way than waving at neighbours occasionally on bin night or saying hello at the pub. 

Working hard towards a common goal forges friendships and connection with like-minded individuals for the good of the community is a great way to bond with neighbours. 

Sheila hopes to encourage new members to join Oakham in Bloom, saying that 20 local people committing just 1 morning a month between March and November would be enough to keep Oakham looking beautiful year on year. 

Currently, Oakham in Bloom have a license from Rutland County Council to maintain 21 planters across the town, along with the flower beds by the library, Queen Elizabeth II statue, peacock, the boat bed on the Stamford Road roundabout, the spitfire bed on Burley Park Way, and beds, planters and flower throughout Oakham. 

With most members helping occasionally, this keeps their 20 regular volunteers extremely busy. 

Oakham in Bloom are always welcoming new volunteers and also have openings in their committee, needing someone to take minutes at meetings once a month and someone to work on fundraising. 

To find out more about Oakham in Bloom, what they do and how to get involved, visit their website.