See the 300,000 flowers all set to make Shrewsbury bloom - with video and pictures
Shrewsbury residents have been treated to a sneak preview of the 300,000 flowers that will light up the town this summer.
The annual Shrewsbury in Bloom event, held at Shrewsbury Town Council’s greenhouse at Weeping Cross on Wednesday, saw more than 150 gardening enthusiasts take in the sights and aroma of thousands of plants, hanging baskets, and containers before they are taken out in to the town for planting next month.
Town clerk Helen Ball said they were thrilled to be able to show off the efforts ahead of the flowers being put out in the town.
She said: “With Shrewsbury participating in both the Heart of England in Bloom and Britain in Bloom competitions this summer, we are delighted to be able to open up our facility to the residents of Shrewsbury.
"Our visitors were thrilled to see over 300,000 blooms cultivated in the town council greenhouse for the town’s award-winning floral displays. It is certainly a sight worth seeing.
“Our staff work tremendously hard to maintain our reputation as ‘the Town of Flowers’ and we are delighted to be able to show our residents just how much work goes on to make our town so colourful and vibrant.”
Guests were given a guided tour of the flower-packed greenhouse by town council staff and bloom committee members, and were able to view demonstrations of how the hanging baskets are planted.
Keith Roberts, chairman of Shrewsbury in Bloom, said it was nice to be able to show people the hard work that goes in to maintaining Shrewsbury's floral reputation.
He said: “With the success of Shrewsbury in the recent BBC2 Britain in Bloom programme, it is wonderful that so many people are interested in seeing how things are managed behind the scenes.
"The vast number of bedding plants destined for Shrewsbury’s fantastic floral features never fails to amaze our visitors when the plants are lined up in rows in the greenhouse.”
Last summer, a film crew from the BBC followed the progress of Shrewsbury through the preparation and taking part in the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual bloom competitions.
The film crew visited the town on a number of occasions prior to judging day last July, with Shrewsbury Town Council staff on hand to provide details of the work involved producing and maintaining the varied floral features around the town.
The town is now gearing up for the visit of Britain in Bloom judges.
Maintenance staff from Shrewsbury Town Council will be delivering hundreds of hanging baskets to businesses around the town and planting up barrels, troughs and beds in a number of locations.
The Dingle will also be prepared to be a riot of colour for the all important visit.
Following the success of last year’s entry in the Heart of England in Bloom competition, winning Gold in the Small City Category, Shrewsbury in Bloom is one of 76 groups from across the UK competing across 12 categories this summer.
Shrewsbury in Bloom is a non-profit committee which brings together interested groups and individuals to implement a programme for Shrewsbury's floral enhancement, environmental improvements and community projects.
It is the driving force behind Shrewsbury's annual entry into the Heart of England in Bloom competition.
