COMMUNITY spirit was alive and kicking when residents adapted their open gardens event to comply with Covid-19 restrictions.
The annual spectacular in Colchester’s New Town centred around Military Road and Wimpole Road.
Having been cancelled in 2020, organisers were determined this year’s event went ahead and adapted it to comply with regulations.
Instead of open gardens, there was a front garden trail, with front yard sales.
Forty-nine gardens featured and 14 had scarecrows outside.
Transformation of rubbish - left, this example of recycling was on display in Morant Road
The activities started with a dancing display outside the Artilleryman pub by clog dancing morris troupe AnnieMation.
In total, they put on five dancing displays in different parts of New Town.
It was followed by the official opening by former MP Sir Bob Russell, in front of a tree which, with colleagues, he planted 47 years ago.
For many years, Sir Bob represented the New Town ward on Colchester Council.
Sir Bob also had the challenging task of judging the scarecrow competition.
Flummoxing the birds - this modern, creative design was in Gladstone Road
For nearly 20 years, the New Town open gardens have been organised by Ann Morris and Jean Quinn.
They are already planning next year’s 20th anniversary, where the theme will be New Town’s history.
As people toured the gardens, they were invited to make donations to this year’s good causes – the Robin Cancer Trust and Medical Assistance Dogs.
Bare essentials - or bear essentials? This teddy, complete with gloves and woollen hat, was in Gladstone Road
The wide-ranging programme spread across New Town, including live music, plants to buy, brick-a-brac yard sales, teas, crafts and quizzes.Other highlights were an art exhibition, a renaissance harpsichord recital, a display of historical re-enactment costumes and exhibitions of embroidery and patchwork quilts.
A historian also gave details of who lived in the New Town houses in 1911 and 1939.
Wimpole Road Methodist Church and St Stephen’s Church Centre, in Canterbury Road, both took part, as did the GO4 Café.
Sir Bob decided the winning scarecrow was Clare Vyse’s ‘Nosey Neighbour’, in Gladstone Road.
Having the hump - this Humpty was in Wimpole Road
In second was Kim Barnetson’s ‘1940s tea drinker’, in King Stephen Road, while third place went to Paul and Margaret Stickland, with ‘Boy Scout’, in Harsnett Road.
Sir Bob decided all other entries were worthy of highly-commended certificates.
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