Bermondsey in bloom

 Nearly 100 years ago Ada Salter began her Bermondsey Beautification campaign and thousands of bulbs and trees were planted all over the area. 

 

 

This weekend, in celebration of the centenary, 10,000 tulip bulbs have been planted across Bermondsey - including after church today in St James's Churchyard (above) by members of the congregation - all part of the Greener Bermondsey #Ada100 project.

 

Shown below are some scenes of the churchyard in full bloom, thanks to Ada.

 

 The Observer wrote in 1931 “Outside the Royal Parks it would be difficult to find anywhere such masses of colour… when the tulips and daffodils are over they will be followed by armies of dahlias, geraniums and antirrhinums.” 

 

The Evening Standard wrote that Bermondsey was “the most optimistic place in London. Because of the flowers…”. It became a place where window boxes and front gardens were filled with daisies and chrysanthemums, and factory girls wore flowers pinned to their coats. ‘Flowers in Bermondsey are not a decoration but a symbol.”

 

 

 Roll on the Spring when Bermondsey will once again be in bloom.

 

 Ada Salter