With Christmas over, and the prospects of weeks more of winter ahead, it’s reassuring to see signs that spring is not too far away. If the winter is turning out mild, you’ll probably see the first tangible signs in January – green shoots popping up everywhere signalling that the spring bulbs are getting ready for a colourful display. Winter aconites, which you’ll certainly find in the Pightle, will be first, followed by snowdrops, crocuses, and then suddenly a rush of daffodils everywhere!
Over the years, volunteers have been planting away each autumn – picking corners of public spaces that could do with some brightness and taking the spades out one November morning to do the digging. At first it was roadside verges, along Nelson Road, Monarch Road and Crosshall Road in particular, but as time’s gone on other footpaths and streets have also had a planting, and of course when benches and signs are installed it’s an obvious time to add a few there too to brighten the scene!

The latest efforts have shifted to the little green “islands” in a number of quiet cul-de-sacs; I’ll be popping round to Beatty Road in a few weeks to take some pictures of whatever appears! Sadly the bulbs are usually finishing by the time Neat Street comes around for judging…

We’d love to hear from you if you have any suggestions for places that could do with a visit from our guerrilla gardeners.

Some of the early plantings we know could definitely do with a refresh, and there are some odd gaps where work has taken place and inadvertently damaged the bulbs underneath. Better still, join us when we go planting – no experience is necessary, just stout shoes and a waterproof coat!