The Better Barrow Community Project was formed in January 2012. It is a registered charity, the purpose of which is to improve and enhance the environment of the village and raise awareness of its heritage. For more information click on ‘About Better Barrow’.
So says Doug Stewart, who, together with Blair Jacobs, judged this year’s entries. You can see pictures he took on the Radio Humberside Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/ydejbyne and also on Doug’s blog: https://tinyurl.com/yafwzuxm
Here we see the winning Wacky Zoo with its creative use of vegetables and the Knitted Ark, again showing amazing attention to detail. The Wacky Zoo also got the most votes in the People’s Choice so Tracey Naylor kindly donated the prize to this lovely runner-up. The pictures below hardly do justice to the winners of second and third prizes. The Humber Bridge was the result of a major piece of research on what goes on north and south of the bridge and the Pirate Ship had so many points of interest it repaid a second or third visit!
Together with our many and varied Open Gardens, entertainments and contributions from so many Barrow groups and organizations, this was another Weekend to Remember. Thanks to everyone who took part and made this another great event. Don’t forget to visit our Facebook page as well.
With a record number of gardens plus over 80 barrows to see, the 2017 event kicks off at 11 o’clock on Saturday 3rd June. Doug Stewart and Blair Jacobs of Radio Humberside will be along to visit the village and judge the wheelbarrows on Saturday.
There will be a number of other events happening over the weekend. The full programme can be downloaded here.
Poster / Programme
We look forward to seeing you!
On the 26th April John Thompson will be giving another of his popular talks. ‘Down Memory Lane’ will feature photographs not shown before and give a unique insight into the village over the last century. 7.30 at Holy Trinity Church, £2.50 on the door. Refreshments will be available.
The first weekend in June will see the sixth annual Wheelbarrow Festival take place, now an established feature of village life. If you wish to contribute a decorated barrow to this year’s event, collect a form from Barrow News or download one from this site. Wheelbarrow and Garden Form_2017
More details about the weekend will be posted after Easter.
During the Wheelbarrow Weekend we will be displaying information about designs for a John Harrison statue and seeking the opinions of Barrow residents.
Always popular – the Cake Stall welcomes an early customer. At the next stall, the tombola was about to begin, going non-stop for an hour and a half. Meanwhile, John Harrison biographer and clockmaker Andrew King stopped by…
Earlier in the month, the Methodist Chapel hosted their annual Christmas Tree celebration. Better Barrow’s theme this year was ‘I Saw Three Ships…’
Trees in the Market Place
The loss of trees was how Better Barrow got started. In 2012, the council removed three medium sized trees from the Market Place because they were sick – mainly because they didn’t have enough space for their roots. Lots of people were upset about this and it led to the setting up of Better Barrow Community Project. When we did a questionnaire throughout the village, replacing the trees came high on the list of things people in Barrow wanted. After four years we have trees back!
Q How much did the tree planting cost?
A The total cost was £13,000. £7,000 of this came from a Compensation payment – that is a payment to make up for trees mistakenly or illegally felled. So the cost to North Lincs was £6,000.
Q That seems quite a lot…
A Yes, the cost of the trees is fairly small but the excavation and other engineering works are obviously the main expense.
Q Couldn’t that money be spent on, say, health or social services?
A Not really. Firstly, Compensation payments have to be spent on tree replacements. Secondly, there are amounts of money budgeted by Local Authorities for specific jobs, such as improving the environment which cannot be switched around.
Q Aren’t people more important than the environment?
A If there was no budget for things like trees and open spaces, we would have no parks, playing fields and so on. And we all know how important these are for people’s health and well-being.
Q What kind of trees are they?
A They are ornamental pears. In other words, they will have nice blossoms but no pears!
Q If the previous trees got sick, won’t these suffer too?
A No. The deep hole that was dug and the ‘cages’ put in mean that there is plenty of room for the roots. Also, a ‘sustainable drainage system’ has been included so that rainwater from round about, including from the bus shelter, will go into this area. Sustainable Drainage Systems or SUDs are recommended by the government as ways of reducing the risk of local flooding in times of very heavy rainfall.
As part of the work in the Market Place, the unsightly tarmac was removed and replaced with paving more appropriate for the area. Ideally, we would like to see the slabs elsewhere in the Market Place taken up and re-laid in a more level and secure way – but that is another aim to be pursued!
We’re sorry that it’s taken a long while to get these up onto the site. Both holidays and computer problems have intervened! All the Open Gardens from 2016 should be in this document. Many thanks to Bill Ballam for taking the pictures.
No, not one of the wheelbarrows but a Lego model of the Market Place with an amazing amount of detail, on show on Saturday. Unfortunately, we couldn’t keep it for next year.
In addition to the winning barrows, there were many that particularly caught the eye of the Judge, Amanda, and those who voted in the People’s Choice. From the Granny in her Salad Daze to the Buddha Garden, from Bloomin’ Barrow’s fabric flower show to the Turtle Beach and Watercress beds…
There were lots of beautiful nursery rhyme / children’s story themed barrows: Thomas the Tank Engine, Postman Pat, Jack and the Beanstalk, the Owl and the Pussycat, the Old Woman who lived in a Shoe, for example, as well as two Beatrix Potter entries, all so carefully thought out. There were some the three barrows that made Barrow Falls, the Wooden Horse and of course the Transformer!
I’ll just reserve a mention for a special favourite of mine which was the Barrow of Remedies outside the pharmacy – very clever and painstakingly constructed.
And we shouldn’t forget the wonderful open gardens, all looking their best in the lovely sunshine!
Photos to follow quite soon, we hope. There are lots to choose from…
