Cumbria in Bloom celebrated a successful 2024 and welcomed a new chair, vice chair, treasurer and administrator at their 39th annual general meeting at Threlkeld Village Hall.
Patron of Cumbria in Bloom, Iona Frost-Pennington of Muncaster Castle congratulated everyone on a successful year. Head gardener at Hutton-in-the-Forest, Ben Houston gave a slide show and presentation on the garden near Penrith with a Gardeners’ Question Time style session.
In his final report as Chair of Cumbria in Bloom, Ronnie Auld said the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ entries had almost doubled this year, to 89 entries, though other categories were slightly down. And despite the poor gardening weather this year, communities across Cumbria had been successful, with many achieving gold, silver-gilt and silver awards.
Cumbria in Bloom is looking forward to its 40th anniversary year in 2025. And there will be new faces leading the organisation into the next decade.
After almost 14 years as the administrator and a 30-year involvement in the Cumbrian horticultural charity, Liz Auld is stepping down from the role.
At the election of new officers, Helen Sale was unanimously voted in to take over from Liz.
Former Vice Chair, Keith McIntosh was also unanimously voted in as the new Chair and Ronnie Auld is taking over the post of treasurer from Ali Gordon. Christine Baelz was unanimously voted in as the new Vice Chair.
Ronnie said: ” Liz and I have spent many hours at our kitchen table, working on Cumbria in Bloom. After almost 14 years as an administrator, Liz has earned her retirement. She has worked tirelessly behind the scenes, processing entries, organising assessment days and planning the presentations. We all want to say a big thank you to her, for everything she has done to keep Cumbria in Bloom on track and welcome Helen into the role. Liz and Helen will be working together over the next two months, to ensure a smooth handover.
“A big thank you also goes to Ali Gordon for her work as treasurer, and I look forward to taking on this new role and handing over the Chair to our Vice-Chair Keith McIntosh.
“We now look forward to our 40th anniversary year where we will be organising a ‘secret assessment’ element to Cumbria in Bloom and invite communities across the county to do ’40 somethings’ to mark our 40 years. This could be planting 40 trees, organising 40 litter picks, or any idea groups across Cumbria can come up with.”
Entries for Cumbria in Bloom 2025 will open in February and details and more information about the horticultural charity are available on their website www.cumbriainbloom.org.uk .
Main photo: All change at Cumbria in Bloom, left-to-right: Ali Gordon, standing down as Treasurer, Keith McIntosh taking over the Chair, new Vice-Chair Christine Baelz, standing down as administrator, Liz Auld, Cumbria in Bloom member Danny Polandand former Chair and new Treasurer Ronnie Auld pictured at the AGM at Threlkeld Village Hall.
