Latest news
November 2023
After many years of dedicated service to SPIOTA, Linda Purnell has decided it is time to step down. Caroline Rathmell is taking her place as Chairperson. On behalf of everyone at SPIOTA, we express our gratitude and thanks to Linda for her tireless efforts and contribution to SPIOTA. Thanks also to Caroline for stepping up and to Jenny and Helen for taking on some of the workload.
September 2023
The summer planting for 2024 will be similar to 2023, which were very attractive. The conifers used this year will be saved and trimmed for next year.
On Thursday 5 and 10 October the tubs which need replacing will be emptied and the soil transferred to new tubs, ready for the winter planting.
For the winter planting this year, the tubs and beds will be planted with polyanthus. Hyacinths will be reused from last year.
An anonymous donor has kindly given SPIOTA £100. Thank you for your contribution.
George Carter is leaving the area. We plan to have a celebration in the Town Hall to thank him for his many contributions to Stokesley.
June 2023
The Stokesley Open Gardens event on the weekend of 17 to 18 June raised £27,370 for Teesside Hospice. This was a record amount. Thank you to everyone involved.
The work continues on the Levenside paths. Due to lack of access we will wait until the work is complete before renewing the planters along the river.
The new tubs from North Yorkshire Council have arrived.
The Terry Dicken Company has made a donation, beginning the sponsorship for maintenance of the Springfield site. Thank you for your contribution.
Lip Smackers café have also made a donation to SPIOTA. Thank you for your contribution.
May 2023
We had crowns in the Marketplace for the Coronation, both on the Ziggurat and around the conifers in the tubs. The Town Hall tubs featured red, white and blue flowers. There were volunteers on Monday 8 May in the Town Hall and we had a stall to encourage new volunteers and donors. There was an evening reception for existing volunteers on Coronation Day.
March 2023
George Carter has engaged an artist to provide a new commemorative mural for the Town Hall, showing the work of SPIOTA past and present. The proposed picture will centre on the new Springfield garden outside the Co-op.
The hanging baskets around the Town Hall will be exchanged for window boxes. These will be easier to water and can be sponsored.
In line with our sustainability plans, the Ziggurat plants will be reused in the Town Signs, Tameside roundabout and the flower beds around Stokesley.
October 2022
New tubs:
North Yorkshire County Council has provided us with 25 new tubs made from recycled materials. They have a double wall structure, which provides extra insulation in the winter and the ability to fill the reservoir with water in the summer. Most of these are now in use and plaques from the old tubs will be transferred by next summer.
Fred Lee retirement:
Fred Lee is retiring from SPIOTA. It is amazing that he has kept going for so long! He will be sorely missed as he has always done so many different jobs. Thank you so much Fred.
September 2022 - summer planting
The summer planting was exceptionally beautiful this year, due to a combination of the prolonged period of warm weather and the efforts of our hard working waterers. Thank you all.
July 2022 - Tour of Britain cycle race
The Tour of Britain cycle race will be passing through Stokesley on 7 September, around 2.30pm. For the event we will be repainting the bike display used for previous cycle races. This will adorn the roundabout where the cyclists enter Stokesley.
March 2022 - compost and summer planting
The summer planting will take place at the end of May into early June. We propose to use peat free compost with the addition of manure and fertiliser. We hope for red, white and blue flowers as it is the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this summer.
May 2021
Summer Planting 2021 will be on Saturday 5 June. We'll meet at the Ziggurat at 9.30am. The beds will be planted the following Thursday. This week we'll top up the compost. The watering list is done, all areas are covered by people who live nearby.
September 2020
Mill Wheel site: The back of the site has been strimmed. Linda will price bark and gravel.
West Green paving: This has been approved by the Town Council. 15 paving slabs will be priced for the tubs to stand on. Some of the tubs are rotting and will need replacing. All the tubs will need fertiliser before the winter planting. We will continue until early November. In the Spring we'll look for new recruits.
2020 - Showfield car park community garden
Our latest project was the creation of a new community garden at the entrance to the Showfield car park. This project was made possible through a grant from the Co-op's Community Fund and with assistance from Co-op contractors Ground Force, who provided labour and machinery to clear the tired old shrubs from the site. After a lot of hard work by volunteers the site has now been completely cleared and dug over, and replanting is well underway. A beautiful new path and seating area have been created by local landscaper David Weighell.