SSIB Cheering the Town During the Covid Crisis!

With so many people suffering so much hardship during this strange and terrible time, Stony in Bloom volunteers have been determined to do all we can to provide a little cheer.

Just before the crisis hit we’d availed ourselves of the RHS offer of free sunflowers, and had made plans to sow sunflower seeds with Brownies, nurseries and play groups. As it was, the only sunflower-sowing we fitted in before lockdown was with the Yo Yos Playgroup at York House. The children thoroughly enjoyed sowing their seeds, and Kate Shaw, who runs the Play Group, nurtured the plants after the playgroup had to close for the pandemic, and has planted them out at York House, where they look magnificent.

SSIB volunteer Clare George had the idea that while schools were closed children would enjoy doing some gardening at home – and with donations of free sunflower seeds from Odell’s and the RHS – she organised a door-step collection of sunflower seeds by parents and children so the children could sow them watch their sunflower seeds grow. The project was advertised on our Facebook page and over 150 seeds were distributed.

The feedback from the children was hugely positive! Each morning when Salome woke up she rushed to see how much her seedling had grown, her mother told us – and others posted about their children’s excitement on our Facebook Page.

Another idea that Clare had was for SSIB volunteers to grow sunflowers, which would then be distributed to those living alone, or on strict lockdown, or who were helping others. 80 sunflower plants were handed out, and again, SSIB was very touched by the appreciation shown by the recipients for this gesture.

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Sarah Malleson's sunflower

Salome measuring 2

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Yo Yo Playgroup sunlowers in bloom