Latest news with #WashingtonVillage
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Overwhelming' donations help save flower bench
A volunteer group has been "overwhelmed" by donations to help save its flower bench after it was damaged by a falling tree branch. The "well-used" bench next to a bus stop in Washington Village, near Sunderland, was "obliterated" last week when a heavy section of a storm-damaged tree crashed on to it. It had been built five years ago and is maintained by the Washington Village in Bloom group. Volunteer Anne James, 58, set up a fundraiser which more than doubled its £300 repair target in three days. She said: "It's very gratifying that we have got that many people willing to support us, and appreciate what we do because we're out in all weathers and all year round." Mrs James, who said she is not particularly tech-savvy, said: "I was a little bit overwhelmed because I've never done anything fundraising before." She created the appeal because, after she posted a picture of the damage, people on social media were asking how they could help. The fundraiser "snowballed" and reached £650 before she closed it. The bench, which also featured a bug house hotel, was constructed by Alan Kerry from the group. It is thought the tree that fell on it had been weakened by previous storms. "It pretty much obliterated the seat," Mrs James said. "The council came out the next morning and cleared the tree but obviously what was left of the seat was sticks really." Mr Kerry had since been able to repair the seat, re-using the damaged wood. It cost about £100 in paint, bolts and filler, so the rest of the money will be used on more flowers for the village plus tools and uniforms, Mrs James said. The group won the Royal Horticultural Society's Britain in Bloom best village gold award in October. Mrs James said people had been "so generous" to donate. "It's a very leafy village so there's always leaves to pick up and bulbs to plant. "It's nice to know that people do actually appreciate what we're doing." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. More on this story Floral success 'helped my cancer recovery' 'Hours picking soggy leaves' leads village to gold Related internet links Washington Village in Bloom
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Washington in Bloom donations restore destroyed flower bench
A volunteer group has been "overwhelmed" by donations to help save its flower bench after it was damaged by a falling tree "well-used" bench next to a bus stop in Washington Village, near Sunderland, was "obliterated" last week when a heavy section of a storm-damaged tree crashed on to had been built five years ago and is maintained by the Washington Village in Bloom Anne James, 58, set up a fundraiser which more than doubled its £300 repair target in three days. She said: "It's very gratifying that we have got that many people willing to support us, and appreciate what we do because we're out in all weathers and all year round." Mrs James, who said she is not particularly tech-savvy, said: "I was a little bit overwhelmed because I've never done anything fundraising before."She created the appeal because, after she posted a picture of the damage, people on social media were asking how they could fundraiser "snowballed" and reached £650 before she closed it. The bench, which also featured a bug house hotel, was constructed by Alan Kerry from the is thought the tree that fell on it had been weakened by previous storms."It pretty much obliterated the seat," Mrs James said."The council came out the next morning and cleared the tree but obviously what was left of the seat was sticks really."Mr Kerry had since been able to repair the seat, re-using the damaged cost about £100 in paint, bolts and filler, so the rest of the money will be used on more flowers for the village plus tools and uniforms, Mrs James said. The group won the Royal Horticultural Society's Britain in Bloom best village gold award in James said people had been "so generous" to donate."It's a very leafy village so there's always leaves to pick up and bulbs to plant."It's nice to know that people do actually appreciate what we're doing." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
09-08-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Washington in Bloom's success 'helped cancer recovery'
A woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer said helping her village become "best in the country" in a floral competition gave her the motivation to continue her Atkinson, from Washington Village near Sunderland, faced four months of chemotherapy and 20 sessions of radiotherapy after being diagnosed in May remained as the leader of a volunteer group which steered the community to scoop the Royal Horticultural Society's Britain in Bloom best village gold award, last Atkinson said she was driven by the hope of seeing flowers she had planted bloom later on in the year, as well as the pride of potentially bringing the award home. "The team gets [you] through it... it was incredible," she said. Ms Atkinson was only meant to lead the group for three months but has ended up in the role for seven years. On the mornings she had treatment she would still complete administration work for the group, or help to plant flowers in the afternoon. She said: "Going through the seasons, thinking you wouldn't see them coming up and you do, so it's just incredible."I was bald with the treatment, had my baker's cap on, but was treated no differently by everyone and I think that was important." Her volunteers said "she likes to do a good job", despite being known in jest for "cracking the whip". Pauline Johnson, Washington Village in Bloom treasurer, said: "She came into the village and she would inspire us, you saw how well she coped and how she developed." The group has recently been judged for the Best Village in Northumbria awards, which covers communities from Berwick-upon-Tweed right down to North Yorkshire, with the results expected later this Atkinson said everybody in the group had "our fingers crossed". Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
