Wildlife gardening

The importance of wildlife corridors is recognised, and the council is changing its maintenance regimes to encourage wildlife reserves on appropriate roadside verges, hedges, and grass areas, in accordance with the Natural Environment and Communities Act (NERC).

The city council continues to work with Kent County Council and Kent Wildlife Trust in producing information packs on gardening for wildlife. Additionally there is a Gardening for Wildlife Award scheme sponsored by Mid Kent Water. To encourage wildlife, the City Council is changing its planting policy to make sure that bird and insect attracting plants are used wherever possible.

Natural burials at Herne Cemetery a copse, glade and meadow area have been created to provide a natural environment to lay to rest loved ones and also enhance the biodiversity interest in the cemetery. Not only has a tranquil setting been creating for contemplation, taking on board stunning views across the district; but also habitats for wild flowers, wild grasses, birds, insects and small mammals.

Competitions

The local gardening competition is organised by our Herne Bay in Bloom Committee with assistance from the council in producing promotional matter and the Street Scene Team in identifying suitable gardens and containers for entry. This year the committee have worked very hard to secure the sponsorship of local businesses for each class of competition. Judging takes place towards the end of June, and prizes are awarded at an awards ceremony in early July.

In addition they have ordered special trophies which can be kept for the first prize winner in each class as a permanent memento of their achievement. Judges are drawn from the Herne Bay Allotments Association, Herne Horticultural and Rose Society, and ex horticultural professionals. Extending the planter theme, the Town Centre Partnership provide potato containers to interested businesses for sponsorship. The best container will be eligible for a prize.

Bedding

Bedding Displays

Along Herne Bay's seafront 28,000 bedding plants have been used to create the magnificent displays that are attractive and popular with residents and visitors alike. The plants chosen have been selected not only to look good, but also for drought tolerance to reduce the demand for watering. A full list of plants and varieties can be found here.

Of particular note are the Seafront Gardens Early in May Serco and Herne Bay in Bloom members gave away its spring bulbs that had to be cleared from the council beds. This is a good recycling exercise and has proved very popular with the public so much so it has been extended to other sites aross the council's area. The council also gave away compost during compost week and has a range of events associated with this.

Carpet bedding

This is a traditional and popular feature of many seaside resorts, and Herne Bay has a specially dedicated site located at St Anne's Gardens. This is a prominent position on the sea front located opposite the popular bandstand landmark destination. For the last few years local school children can enter a painting competition to design the following years carpet bed. The winning design for this year reflects the Heron, the symbol for the Herne Bay area. The winning design was by Molly aged eight from Herne Bay Junior School.

Bedding Plants

This is a list of some of the plants we have used in bedding around Herne Bay...

Ageratum Champion White
Angelonia Angelface Wedgewood Blue
Angelonia Angelmist Deep Plum
Angelonia Angelmist Lavender Bicolour
Angleonia Angelmist White Cloud
Argyranthemum Maderia Crested Primrose

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