More than 750,000 bedding plants have been grown and in excess of 400 hanging baskets prepared at Douglas Borough Council’s Ballaughton Nursery to create the floral displays across the Borough that have attracted widespread compliments. Leisure Services Committee Chairman Councillor Stephen Pitts said: ‘The efforts of the Council’s parks section have earned praise from many residents and visitors who were impressed, as I and my fellow Councillors have been, by the magnificent displays throughout the town, from the hanging baskets and planters along Victoria Street to the carpet bedding in Noble’s Park and in the sunken gardens where a poppy motif has been created to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion. Additionally, with all eyes on Douglas this September, the raised flower bed outside the Sefton Hotel has a Commonwealth Youth Games theme while autumn-flowering planting has been programmed to be in bloom in time for the Games in many of our displays, including 40 large containers and eight flower towers.’ Nursery foreman Graham Newsome added: ‘We have also had some very favourable comments about the beds on Queens Promenade, the bulk of that show having come from cuttings of argyranthemum taken last autumn and over-wintered at the nursery.’ Mr Newsome explained that hanging baskets and containers were watered and fed six days a week in the early morning, all compost used at the nursery was sourced locally from sterilised topsoil and organic matter came from the nursery’s plant waste. Council Leader Councillor David Christian JP said: ‘The parks section is to be congratulated on their year-round efforts in maintaining our open spaces to such a high level. Research has shown that attractive well-managed public parks, gardens and green open spaces play a vital role in local communities and can contribute to their economic, social and environmental wellbeing. Indeed, an independent report this year by the UK National Ecosystem Assessment has highlighted the importance of enhancing and protecting the environment and revealed that the health benefits of living with a view of a green space has been estimated to be worth up to ?300 per person a year. ‘It is against this background and despite these challenging economic times that the Council remains committed to improving the local environmental quality for the benefit of residents, workers and visitors and to make the town more attractive to potential investors. However, if we are to preserve and enhance our green open spaces for future generations there must be a concerted integrated approach with local authorities, government, the private and voluntary sectors and the public working together in partnership.’ Ends