Ref. 29440-31DESPITE all the signs that spring is coming, Swindon is in for a cold snap over the next few days.

The signs of spring have been in evidence in the last week, with blossom, daffodils, snowdrops and crocuses brightening up Swindon after the winter gloom.

While bulbs have been relatively unaffected, shrubs have not had it so good.

Jayne Newton, horticultural manager at Wyevale garden centre in Stratton St Margaret, said: "It's generally shrubs like hydrangeas which have suffered recently because we had very mild weather in January which started lots of tender new growth because the plants thought it was spring, and two weeks of cold weather since then. This damaged the new growth.

"The other problem we have had is that it has been so dry that we have been watering the plants, but we have to do that first thing in the morning because you don't want to have wet leaves at night in case there is a frost."

Anthony Osborne