🌼Petal to the People: Wantage Road in Bloom Returns!

Greener gardens, stronger community.

This spring and summer, Wantage Road is blooming - and so is West Reading! What began as a local effort on one street is now stretching out across Norfolk Road and beyond as part of a larger neighbourhood movement to make our streets more colourful, welcoming, and full of life.

West Reading in Bloom is all about using gardening as a way to bring neighbours together. Whether it’s a hanging basket on a lamppost, a window box full of wildflowers, or a wreath on your front door, every little bit contributes to a more vibrant and connected community.

🌼 What’s It All About?

This isn’t just about flowers - it’s about fostering pride, sharing joy, and encouraging wildlife. We're inviting everyone, from seasoned gardeners to curious first-timers, to take part in transforming our neighbourhood into a pollinator-friendly paradise.

You can join in by:

• Planting in your front garden or on your windowsill - even a single pot can make a difference.
• Putting up a homemade or shop-bought wreath on your door to show you’re part of the bloom.
• Growing wildflowers to attract bees and other friendly insects.
• Caring for hanging baskets on lampposts outside your home (we’ll help install them - you just help water them!).

We’re encouraging every neighbour to participate however they can - even if it’s just adding a splash of colour to your steps.

🌻 What’s Happening?

Throughout the season, we’ll be:

• Swapping seedlings and sunflower seeds to help everyone get growing.
• Decorating Easter eggs and windows to celebrate spring in style.
• Checking in on sunflower progress, with a friendly challenge later in the year to see who’s grown the tallest.
• Celebrating creativity with Easter drawings and prizes for community contributions.

And we’re not stopping there - we’re planning to recognise outstanding contributions later in the summer with informal awards for things like:

• Most colourful garden
• Best use of space
• Most eco-friendly planting
• Most improved garden
• Community choice award

It’s all in the spirit of fun and neighbourhood pride - not competition, just celebration.

🌷 Why It Matters

Besides making our streets look wonderful, planting flowers and wild greenery helps support biodiversity, attract pollinators, and create a stronger sense of belonging on our streets. It’s a way to say: we care about where we live, and we care about each other.

So whether you’re potting up your first marigold or covering your railings in sweet peas, you’re a part of West Reading in Bloom - and we can’t wait to see what grows.