MALTON is well and truly blooming this year thanks to the hard work of a dedicated group of volunteers. Following the town’s achievements in 2017 when it secured a Silver Gilt, members of Malton in Bloom (MIB) have been building on the success of their inaugural year over the winter and spring months.

More than 4,000 plants have been planted up, including about 200 hanging baskets and planters in and around the Market Place and on a number of prominent entrance points to the town, along with the two bridges that link Malton and Norton.

As well as these formal displays, neglected green open spaces across the community have been tended to, some for the first time in many years.

A year-round ground planting programme has also been implemented with the planting of tulips, herbaceous perennials for year-on-year growth, and evergreen structures - all to create a bee-friendly, sustainable and colourful planting theme.

Malton’s “Food Capital of Yorkshire” runs as a thread through all the ground planting that includes bergamot, catmint, courgettes, fennel, globe artichokes and runner beans.

Communtiy groups have taken responsibility for various parts of the town, including the “Welcome to Malton” signs, flowerbeds on the railway station forecourt and at Water Lane Car Park (MIB volunteers); raised beds in Newbiggin (Malton WI); Malton Railway Station platform planters (Derwent Diggers in conjunction with Transpennine Express); and St Leonard’s Close garden in Old Maltongate (Malton WI and Frack Free Ryedale).

There have also been several major new projects for 2018 with the neglected flowerbeds at the bus station being planted up by Malton and District Beekeepers Association, in conjunction with Coastliner (Transdev) and MIB volunteers.

Volunteers have also carried out wildflower planting at the entrance to Castle Gardens in Orchard Fields, and to the riverside picnic area between County Bridge and Railway Street.

Christopher Turner, organiser of Malton in Bloom, said: “A very cold winter, a very wet spring and a very hot and dry summer have been a real challenge for all those involved with MIB 2018, but the town really is looking fantastic.

“A great deal of work has been put in by volunteers to maintain and enhance the displays in the public open spaces.

“These efforts are for the benefit of all residents and visitors alike.

“It plays an important role in improving our well?being and it helps our businesses to be more successful through a positive, attractive outlook.”

The results of the In Bloom competition will be announced in September.

Any individuals, community groups, clubs and sponsors that would like to be involved with MIB should go to maltoninbloom.co.uk