Douglas town centre is set to be ablaze with colour as the Council’s parks section prepares to set out around 650 floral displays created from more than 350,000 bedding plants grown at its Ballaughton nursery site.
All the plants have been grown using peat-free growing medium produced over six months from recycled green waste material generated by the parks section. Beds on Queen’s Promenade and in the sunken gardens on Loch Promenade have already been planted out and a carpet bedding scheme celebrating the TT is being prepared in Noble’s Park.
Many of the bedding plants are destined for planters and hanging baskets, some 48 of which have already been sponsored by local businesses through a hire scheme provided by the Council.
Regeneration and community advisory committee lead member Councillor Stephen Pitts said: ‘The Council’s parks team do tremendous work year round maintaining the town’s public spaces and parks in excellent condition. The hanging baskets scheme not only makes the central business and retail areas of Douglas more attractive and welcoming but also complements the progress being made with town centre regeneration.’
Councillor Pitts went on to encourage more members of the public to enter the Douglas in Bloom competition which, with 11 categories, offers opportunities for all gardeners, no matter how modest a green space they may have. He said entries would be especially welcome in the allotments category, after the Council completed the second and final phase of its allotments scheme on Johnny Watterson’s Lane earlier this year, adding 45 plots to the first phase of 25.
To order a hanging basket apply online at douglas.gov.im or contact the parks section, 696330.
Douglas in Bloom is open to all Douglas residents. To enter online, visit douglas.gov.im, or collect an entry form from Douglas town hall or the Henry Bloom Noble Library. Closing date for entries Monday June 10th.
Photo - Flower power: Councillor Stephen Pitts, right, with head of parks David Hewes, centre, and assistant head of parks (technical) Graham Newsome at Ballaughton nursery. Picture Andrew Barton
