Seasons of Ceres Portfolio for Beautiful Scotland 2014 - 24 June 2014
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24 June 2014
Seasons of Ceres
Portfolio for Beautiful Scotland 2014
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Top: Daffodils on Bow Butts, 7 April 2014.
Left: Planter, Bridgend, 20 June, 2014
Right: Troughs, Fife Folk Museum, 20 June 2014
Portfolio 2014, Page 1
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24 June 2014
Introduction
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• About Ceres…
• Ceres is a busy and attractive village. It is situated in a small glen, eight miles from St
Andrews and two miles from Cupar.
• Ceres is home to the recently-extended Fife Folk Museum, to many clubs and
businesses and to a thriving Primary School.
• Men from Ceres fought in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. In recognition of their
support, Robert the Bruce granted the village a Charter to hold Games each June.
The Ceres Games take place each year on the village green, known as ‘Bow Butts’ .
• This year is therefore the 700th anniversary of the Ceres Games as well as of the Battle
of Bannockburn itself.
• About Seasons of Ceres…
• Formed in 2007 by a group of residents whose aim was to enhance the appearance
of their village.
• The range of tubs, planters and other projects has grown steadily over the years. All
are still maintained by voluntary effort.
• Sponsorship has been attracted for individual planters and for one-off projects -
such as this year’s Scarecrow Competition, planned to tie in with the 700th
anniversary of Bannockburn and of the Ceres Games.
• Since 2009, the group has taken part in Beautiful Fife - a source of helpful advice
and inspiration. This is our first entry in Beautiful Scotland.
• The group’s future plans include further growth, building on existing partnerships.
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Portfolio 2014, Page 2
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24 June 2014
A. Horticultural Achievement
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As in previous years, we have aimed to make our beautiful village even more stunning by
adding floral colour. All around Ceres, more tubs and troughs than ever before have been
filled with eye-catching displays of flowers - and most of them have attracted sponsorship
from individuals or local businesses. All planting, dead-heading and watering are done by
volunteers.
• General - the work throughout the year.
A planter in September 2013
• October - remove summer planting, top-up tubs and planters,
• November - re-plant planters and troughs with bulbs and pansies for Spring.
• May - remove bulbs and pansies for re-use, top-up containers and plant them for the
coming summer.
• Range, variety and colours of plants chosen:
• the choices are the result of careful planning at the group’s meetings during autumn,
winter and spring (eg, at our April meeting, colour scheme for summer planting was
finalised)
• our discussions took account of feedback from Beautiful Fife judging (discussed at our
September meeting), reviewing experience from past years (and from other towns and
villages) to decide what would work best for us in the coming seasons.
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Portfolio 2014, Page 3
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24 June 2014
• Quantity of plants on display
• The number of tubs and planters on display has increased from 32 to 38 this year,
through purchases and donations, increasing the impact of the group’s work. The
number of sponsored planters is 35.
• We have once again planted a set of tubs with a variety of herbs (at the entrance to the
cemetery on St Andrews Road). Members of the public can help themselves to these
for cooking or other purposes.
• An area in front of the historic (and much visited) Provost’s statue has been tidied and
planted, with generous sponsorship from The Rotary Club of Cupar.
From his niche, The Provost looks down on the newly-planted bed. 20th June 2014.
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Portfolio 2014, Page 4
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24 June 2014
• Plants are well cultivated and healthy
• watering and maintenance is carried out entirely by volunteers - group members and
others, including the local Scouts.
• Sustainability - there is a suitable balance of permanent and annual planting
• plants are saved for re-use wherever possible. (For example, bulbs and pansies from
the spring planting)
• The car park’s rather plain public loo has been given a ‘hat’ - donated troughs filled
with re-cycled plants now adorn its low roof.
• The condition of public and private gardens/grounds - plus any commercial areas -
show support for the entrants’ efforts to improve
the community.
•Seasons of Ceres efforts are complemented by
those of individual residents and local businesses.
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Above: Hanging baskets at The Villager
tearoom. Right: Window box at The !
Ceres Butcher. Below, Meldrums Hotel. !
All photos: 20th June 2014
Portfolio 2014, Page 5
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24 June 2014
B. Environmental Responsibility
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• Conservation and biodiversity - wildlife areas, natural habitats
• We highlight the provision of Bird Boxes- an initiative by the Cubs and Scouts at
Craighall Den; also Owl boxes (Cubs) at Owlet Wood and Craighall Den.
• Resource management - re-cycling, minimising harmful impacts
• we save and re-use many plants, tubers and bulbs, as well as pots and planters.
Beaver Scouts helped look after and re-plant last year’s begonia tubers.
• The public loo in the village’s main car park has been brightened by donated troughs,
filled with re-cycled plants.
Troughs bring colour to the public toilet in the car park. 19th June 2014.
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Portfolio 2014, Page 6
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24 June 2014
• Local Heritage - management and development of local heritage/identity
• Seasons of Ceres has organised a well-supported Scarecrow Competition on the twin
themes of 700 years of the Ceres Games and the 700th anniversary of Bannockburn.
• the triangular bed adjacent to the historic and much-visited ‘Provost’ has been cleared
and planted.
• Local Environmental Quality - Vacant Properties, Problem Sites, litter, graffiti, dog
fouling…
• An area at the corner of Anstruther Road has been tidied and planted (in addition to
the bed next to The Provost).
• We work through the Community Council to help identify areas where upgrade can
be carried out through Community Payback (including the re-painting of footbridges).
• Pride of Place
• Seasons of Ceres works with others to reflect the pride felt in the village and its
history. This year, two particular items stand out, both achieved with the help of
sponsorship:
• Our Scarecrow Competition, tying in with other celebrations of the700th anniversary
of Bannockburn and the Games.
• Tidying and planting the flower bed adjacent to the ancient statue of The Provost.
C. Community Engagement
Year-round Community Participation.
• We ran a stall at the Ceres Village Fun
Day in August 2013
• raised public awareness of our work
• raised funds from sale of donated
garden ornaments and plants
• boosted our sponsor-a-planter
initiative.
• Continued with the successful
‘Sponsor-a-Planter’ Initiative
Portfolio 2014, Page 7
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24 June 2014
• recruited new sponsors throughout the year and kept sponsors informed of our
activities.
• sponsorship of individual tubs and troughs is recognised by an inscribed slate plaque,
bearing the sponsor’s name (unless they wish to remain anonymous)
• Emptying and Planting of Troughs and Planters was carried out with the help of the
local Scouts.
• Planting bulbs in the banking at Bow Butts with the help of local schoolchildren.
• Website developed (with help of Digital Fife)
• Group members attended free training and carried out development of a site for
Seasons of Ceres.
• Full-colour Leaflet created for distribution from late June 2014 onwards.
• to raise awareness, help recruit new members and sponsors and to thank all existing
helpers and supporters.
• Scarecrow Competition organised to celebrate “700 years of the Ceres Games” and
“700th Anniversary of Bannockburn
Caber-tossing scarecrow in Main Street.
20th June 2014
Portfolio 2014, Page 8
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24 June 2014
• Plans developed over winter and spring for the competition and for a visitor ‘trail’.
• Sponsorship obtained from local company “Tidy Gardens”.
• posters and rules distributed in May.
• Scarecrows on display and judging in late June, to co-incide with the 700th
Anniversary Games.
• Window Poster created for Sponsors to display on their premises.
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Finance
• Uses of funds
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• All labour used in our projects - for planting, watering, feeding etc - is provided free
by group members, friends or other volunteers (for example, the local Scouts.)
• Funding is however required
• to purchase plants, compost, planters and troughs.
• to cover the costs of one-off events (e.g. Prizes for Scarecrow Competition)
• for publicity materials e.g., banner and tee-shirts for attendance at Fun Day and
other events.
• Sources of Finance
• Sponsorship of tubs and planters by residents or businesses. Sponsored tubs/troughs
bear a slate plaque acknowledging the sponsor by name (unless they wish to remain
anonymous)
• Sponsorship of one-off events (e.g, The Scarecrow Competition has attracted
sponsorship from local company Tidy Gardens.)
• Donations from local residents and organisations, including the Rotary Club of Cupar,
whose donation supported the tidying and planting of the bed next to The Provost.
• Sale of donated plants and garden ornaments at our stall as part of the village’s Fun
Day.
• Grants from Fife Council.
Portfolio 2014, Page 9!
24 June 2014
Plans for the Future
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• The need for a new striking, feature in the village has been identified - something with a
“Wow” factor. An idea has been developed and soundings are being taken within the
community. We hope to be able to proceed soon.
• We shall continue to identify and act on any neglected areas within the village.
• Our activities can only grow and prosper in partnership with others. Accordingly, we
plan to build on existing partnerships, make new ones wherever appropriate and to
work to attract and welcome new members to our group.
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Seasons of Ceres
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Portfolio 2014, Page 10!
24 June 2014
Appendix - Newspaper Cuttings.
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The Ceres Diary - both on-line and in paper form - is full of news and is widely read in
Ceres and District. Four extracts from it appear below.
Top, left and right, July 2013. Lower, left, March 2014. Lower right, May 2014.
Portfolio 2014, Page 11You can also read
