Current Stony in Bloom Projects
Work continues on many of the projects that Stony in Bloom has initiated since 2008. New projects for 2010 are either low-maintenance projects developed in response to local residents’ requests – and with their active help – or they are associated with Stony Stratford’s historic heritage.
To find out more about any of these projects, follow one of these links:
- Augustus Road Garden
- Bluebell Wood
- Ecclesiastical Cross
- Lychgate at London Road Cemetery
- Millenium Beds
- Sensory Garden: London Road/Hale Avenue
Augustus Road Garden
At the junction of Calverton Road and Augustus Road in Stony Stratford there is a triangular seating area with narrow beds on all three sides. By 2008 the planting had become very straggly and overgrown, so we tidied it up during the summer of 2008 and planted some annuals to provide a bit of colour.
We were able to collaborate with Milton Keynes Council on the clearance and redesign of the beds, and after consulting local residents on their wishes, the planting plan was drawn up by Lesley Keck and Mary Sarre, both resident garden designers. 
Many of the older residents remember the rose garden that once graced this corner, and expressed their wish that we plant roses. We were mindful of the difficulties this might present, and at the same time had ideas of our own we wished to incorporate here. We particularly wanted to extend the season of interest of the planting, to bring in some extra height, and to fill the beds with perennials and bulbs. Many of the plants we chose are scented, will attract bees and other pollinating insects, and also provide total ground cover and be less of a maintenance burden.
With this brief in mind we chose three street trees (two Sorbus vilmorinii and one Acer campestre ‘Elsrijk’), to continue the line of trees along Calverton Road.
The roses are: Remembrance (deep red); Royal William (red ) and City of London (pink). We have grouped the roses in threes, and between them we have clumps of a tall ornamental grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’). This forms the ‘backbone’ of the design. Then between them are waves of lavender, Caryopteris and Geraniums.
For a burst of spring colour, we planted tulips: ‘Purissima’ (creamy white), Isle de France (deep red) and Christmas Dream (pink–red). 
For late-season interest we have Sedum spectabile ‘Autumn Joy’, Verbena bonariensis, the grasses, and then the evergreens (rosemary, lavender, Euonymus) carry on the show through the winter months.
All the planting was carried out by volunteers for Stony in Bloom, and local residents are taking on the maintenance care of the beds.
Furthermore, we have three new benches and an octagonal planter to enhance the seating area.
Bluebell Wood
The ‘Bluebell Wood’ is the piece of land between the bus stop on London Road and the Stony Stratford Children’s Play Centre. In Spring 2009 Stony In Bloom volunteers worked hard to clear the weeds, which were all over the site, with the aim of making this piece of woodland into a bluebell wood, replete with native wild flowers. Old decayed trees were identified and removed where possible and new paths were cleared and covered with chippings. Bulbs were planted, as were primrose plants and a hedge of native trees and shrubs. The work continued through the Spring, Summer and Autumn of 2009 and stopped only with the bad weather during the Winter. Now work has resumed as the bluebells are starting to show and the primroses are beginning to flower. In March a large branch overhanging the road way was removed and cut up – you can see some of our volunteers in the pictures.
We shall continue improving this piece of land through 2010 and plans are in hand to plant wild flower plugs and to make a seating area. Most people who pass the site are very supportive of the hard work that has been done, but unfortunately there are those who see it as somewhere to throw their empty crisp packets and drink cans. Each time we visit we have to clear at least one bag full of rubbish. We work at the site on at least two Saturday mornings each month – so anyone wishing to help, please get in touch the Town Council office. You will be very welcome.
London Road Cemetery: the lychgate
Already a number of work parties have cleared ivy from the stone perimeter walls and the lychgate of the old Wolverton St Mary’s burial ground in London Road, which has been somewhat neglected in recent years. There is still much more to do. During this work it became obvious that the lychgate, which was designed by the well-known local nineteenth-century architect Edward Swinfen Harris and erected around 1870, was in need of urgent renovation.
Surprisingly, this proved to be somewhat easier to get under way than was first thought, as Chris Butcher of CJB Construction and Simon Pooley of SP Scaffolding kindly offered to carry out this work completely free of charge. All we have to do is finance the materials, which will be reclaimed material of that period, where possible, to restore it as closely as possible to its original look.
Milton Keynes Council and the Stony Stratford Futures Group have kindly agreed to pay for these materials on a match-funded basis.
In spite of the snow, the scaffolding has been erected on 7 January, with work hopefully starting on 11 January.
London Road Cemetery: the cross
Research and negotiations have been going on for a considerable time in respect of the ‘Ecclesiastical Cross’ in the same burial ground. For reasons of safety this has been fenced off in a somewhat unsightly manner for a number of years now. Because there are burials very close to the cross, it is not feasible to get equipment in to carry out in situ the essential safety and renovation work that is urgently required.
Instead, the plan is to remove the cross, to carry out that work, including sympathetic cleaning, and then to re-erect the cross within the same ancient parish, but at a location yet to be decided. The plans are to make it a prominent feature within the town, with perhaps a Memorial Garden planted around it, eventually seating, and even carpet bedding. All these ideas are open to discussion, and your views are welcome.
For further details or comments, please contact Ray Cobley on 01908 562370 or Charles Brindley, Clerk to Stony Stratford Town Council, on 01908 566726.
Millenium Beds
Flower beds were planted in 2008 around each of the ‘millenium stones’ at the five entrances to Stony Stratford. 
These are: at the north end of the High Street, Ostlers Lane, Wolverton Road, London Road and Calverton Road.
Each of these ‘millenium beds’ is looked after by Stony in Bloom volunteers, except the Calverton Road bed, which is kindly tended by its sponsors, Freestone.
Sensory Garden: London Road/Hale Avenue
This crescent-shaped bed was planted by volunteers in May 2009, and designed to present colour and variety all year round. Scented shrubs include: Sarcococca (winter box), which is evergreen and gives off scent and nectar in mid-winter, followed by Osmanthus and Ribes (currant), rosemary, lavender and buddleia later in the season.
We have chosen plants also for their colour and texture all year round, for example, Phlomis and Stachys, both with soft grey ‘woolly’ leaves, hardy geraniums for summer colour, followed by asters and Rudbeckia for late summer. 
The bamboos (Phyllostachys nigra) and grasses (Stipa tenuissima) bring rustle and movement in the wind, and stand all winter. Many of these plants are a valuable nectar source, attracting bees and other pollinating insects right through the season.
The bed is now maintained by Stony in Bloom volunteers.
