Goring

Chris Bavin travels to the pretty Oxfordshire village of Goring on Thames to meet a determined Bloom group of grandparents who this year are taking on big businesses in the hope of winning a gold award. They aim to transform the refurbished train station which is utilitarian and uninviting, but to do this, they first have to get extensive permissions in place from the train company. Next, they want to green up the pathway from the village car park to the high street to create a pleasant first impression for visitors. Again, they have to find out who owns the land and seek permission to remove a tatty fence. Lastly, they will be filling the village centre with hanging baskets and troughs. None of this will be possible if the Bloomers can't engage the local commuters to help with the heavy planting work.