Volunteers wanted to help plant 5,500 bluebells in Newport park

Newport Councillor Peter Scott is temporarily turning his attention away from trees in a bid to help turn a patch of Newport a lovely shade of blue. 

The councillor - who, for several years has been helping to plant hundreds of new trees around the town - is appealing for willing volunteers to help in his latest mission to plant 5,500 bluebells in and around Strine Park.

"We don't have a lot of bluebells close by to us. The nearest good show of them is the back of Aqualate," said Councillor Scott.

"So the idea is that you won't have to travel miles to see them. It's a nice way of beautifying the area, we've already got a lot of daffodils along the canal.

"They're all native, all British - next year there will be a massive show and it will hopefully draw people into Newport who will want to come and see the bluebells.

"Each year they'll spread too, so we'll have a burst of blue here in Strine Park for many years to come." 

Planting will take place at Strine Park on Monday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 4 between 9am and 1pm. All equipment is provided.

Just round the corner, efforts to spruce up Victoria Park is underway in a bid to secure a prestigious Green Flag Award - the national benchmark standard for parks and green spaces.

As well as work to trim branches, improve signage and safety along the canal, there's also talk of improving lighting which Councillor Scott hopes will ensure the park is "attractive to everyone at all times of the day".