Organiser hits out at apathy over bulb planting

John Brownlee, 62, from the Buckhurst Field Project, organised a bulb-planting event on Saturday but was left fuming when nobody turned up to help.

The project had joined forces with the Junior Street Wardens and urged volunteers to help plant thousands of daffodil and tulip bulbs near New College in Queen's Drive.

Mr Brownlee, of Chickerell Road, said: "It was a disaster. Not one sole turned up.

"We were on the radio and the newspaper asking people to help and not a single sole turned up. It was unbelievable."

Mr Brownlee has lived in Swindon for 30 years and claims an unwillingness from people to get involved has always been here.

"It's apathy. I'm not surprised by it. It's the Swindon syndrome. People want everything to be done for them, it's always been the same," he said.

In spite of a lack of support from the public Mr Brownlee was pleased 17 members of the Junior Street Wardens, aged between eight and 12 had responded.

He said: "It's magic that the youngsters and their supervisors got involved.

"They were great and we thank them for all their efforts. They had a great time doing it as well."

But their help was not enough to ease Mr Brownlee's frustration at the general public.

"The youngsters have shown the adults up," he said. "They have shown they are willing to put their time in and help others, where as the older generation haven't.

"Thousands of people here have ideas. But when you say to them 'do it' they all back off.

"No-one wants to give their time and effort. It's frustrating to say the least."

With no help from the public it was left to the youngsters and the committee members of the Buckhurst Field Project to do the work.

In the past the project has worked hard to improve the football pitch, basketball court and play area between Chickerell Road, Park North, and Buckhurst Crescent, Walcot.

And they are currently raising money to build a skate park in the area this year.