As part of NKEF's promotion of urban nature we have presented a new trophy for a Wildlife Garden to the Brighter Kensington and Chelsea Scheme. The trophy, as befits a wildlife award, is a wooden platter turned from native English oak and had been specially made for NKEF by Clive Pollard. |
|
Clive Pollard is a retired civil engineer who spent his career managing the construction of tunnels - including the Channel Tunnel and the Waterloo to Westminster section of the Jubilee Line extension. He took up woodturning as a hobby several years ago. He enjoys the creative aspect of bowl turning and the way in which the grain of the wood is brought to life. He has won prizes for his bowls and recent work as incorporated carved Celtic patterns as decoration.
The most visible and best-known activity of the Brighter Kensington and Chelsea Scheme is its annual Summer Competition which remains free to all. It is open to businesses, residents, schools churches etc. in the Royal Borough and covers all types of garden from window boxes and balconies to very large garden squares. The judges for the competition have traditionally been drawn from the various Royal Parks and other related bodies. The climax of the Scheme's year is the Annual Prize-giving held at the Town Hall and presided over by the Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea.
The idea for the scheme began in 1952 when everyone was talking about the Coronation and how best to decorate the streets. In the Gloucester Arms a group of regulars felt that no amount of bunting could compare to the dazzling beauty of real flowers. And so "The Brighter Kensington and Chelsea Scheme" was born. It has continued happily from its inception, becoming a registered charity in 1984. The Scheme's aim "To encourage horticulture in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in particular the awarding of prizes in open competition to residents of the borough", together with the original aim, "To encourage pride in our borough by the planting of trees shrubs and plants" provide quite a wide objective!