Below: Ross Motor Sports club kindly donated a cheque for £150 to the County Air Ambulance on Wednesday evening at their Headquarters in Kyrle Street. Left to right, Phill Sanders, Zena Higgs - Area Co-ordinator for the County Air Ambulance and Des Auld.
I am sorry I did not make it on Sunday to photograph your event at The Pludds but an emergency came up and I had to go to Essex for the day to visit my very sick mother. I will photograph your next event.

Ross-in-Bloom are preparing for July, when Heart of England in Bloom judges will be visiting the town and the judging of both local competitions will take place.

Newsletters have been delivered to all shops and other traders in Ross, outlining the competitions and plans for 2005. As soon as the date of the town visit is known, a second newsletter will be delivered, containing full details of the Heart of England in Bloom Day. These newsletters are also available for gardeners and may be collected from various places around the town. Details of the judges' proposed route will also be published within the next few weeks.

To raise public awareness of what Ross-in-Bloom are doing for this year, a stall was set up at the Gardeners Fair at Ross Market on Friday, 22nd April. Volunteers were on hand throughout the morning explaining what the group does and how the public can help. They also handed out forms for entry to various competitions such as the Retired / Disabled competition and the new Children's competition, sponsored by the Ross Gazette. Most judging is done automatically, but this was an opportunity for gardeners to find out about the extra competitions which need a specific entry.

As well as high profile information stalls at Gardeners Fairs, (the next one being on 24th May at the Market House) Ross-in-Bloom are organizing major fun events this year, leading up to the main programme in July.

On Bank Holiday Monday, 30th May they are organizing a day of stalls and entertainment at the Market House. This day will be repeated on Sunday 28th August.

The usual Charity Market is being organized this year, with a difference. Everybody in the town is being encouraged to take part in the "History of Ross" Day. You are invited to dress in costume depicting your favourite character from Ross History (either local character or visitor). Anybody wishing to take part in this can contact Mary Powell for more information.

Ross-in-Bloom require costumes and props as well as "actors" for this day, which should be great fun for all and enjoyable for visitors. Volunteers' meetings are being arranged at the Phoenix Theatre and details will be published in the press.

Further details on any of the above events may be obtained by leaving a letter at the Heritage Centre, Halcyon Daze or Lucas Motorcycles, by visiting the Ross in Bloom web site or by telephone 01989 563056 before 8.30 pm.

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All being well, Nature Watch will return next week. I was down a day this week due to a family emergency at which I had to travel to Essex for the day on Sunday. I just ran out of time to produce the article.