Carousels of colour

Each year, Swindon Council spends £50,000 on the upkeep of the colourful flowerbeds dotted around on roadsides, roundabouts as well outside council buildings, and in the various parks and recreational areas.

Heading up a team of 12 gardeners is parks and amenities officer, Martin Buckland.

He and his team battle to keep the town in bloom. It's not only the weather they have to worry about, there are financial constraints too, as the £50,000 of funding is divided between 200 gardens meaning there is only an average of £250 to spend on each set of flowerbeds.

Some of the £50,000 spent is offset by sponsorship, although there are only three being sponsored at the moment, and the gardeners are keen to hear from any businesses wishing to get on board.

Mr Buckland said: "It is all about making the town more attractive. Some towns you pass through are really gloomy, but if we put these displays at the entrances to the town, people passing through could be encouraged to visit and they feel a little bit happier about passing through."

There are seven flowerbeds located on roundabouts and many more are by the roadsides.

All of the eye-catching designs are put together by Martin. He explained: "I try to keep them quite simple, colourful borders and shapes and it all works really well.

"I think people really appreciate my team's efforts, and unlike the rest of the council who seem to get lots of complaints, we seem to get lots of complements each year."

The council gardeners begin planting around 200,000 species across the town in early May. They come into bloom in June and July and remain in place until late September and early October when the beds are cleared and prepared for the next year.

The thousands of plants are bought in bulk. They consist of a mix of French and African marigolds, begonias, petunias and a small number of salvias.

Mr Buckland said: "All of the team take great pride in working on the various gardens around the town. It is almost as if they're working on their own gardens. Unfortunately I am just a pen pusher now, but I still like to get out and about and get my hands dirty.

"We don't use any pesticides or sprays, and we do tend to use organic fertilisers. Occasionally we have to put down slug pellets, and on rare occasions we will deal with disease on the plants, but an easier and effect way of dealing with weeds would be welcomed with open arms."

In spite of the scale of the operation, there is no hi-tech equipment. A motorised machine which ploughs the soil is the only luxury item in the council gardeners' arsenal. The rest is done by hard slog with traditional forks, spades and well used gardeners' gloves.

Asked whether he thought Swindon could enter a town in bloom competition, Martin said: "I cannot see the town entering into any of these major competitions simply because of the financial costs involved."

"Although there is much prestige, to enter a competition like that requires a huge amount of effort not just for the council but from local people as well. The whole town environment would have to change and everyone has to get involved. I am extremely proud of what we have managed to achieve, but a prestige project like that would be far too costly even without sponsorship."

Among the most familiar of flowerbeds in Swindon, are the three beds at the roundabout of Croft Road and Pipers Way. Those flowers are sponsored by the Nationwide building society. Others are sponsored by Affleck Electrical and Booker's Cash and Carry.

Now the plants are brought in from suppliers, but 15 years ago many councils operated their own nurseries which went a long way to help reduce the cost of purchasing plants for town projects. Swindon was no exception.

Thamesdown Council's nursery was located in greenhouses in Cheney Manor but was closed after councils were told by law to put all contracts out to tender. Now the Manor Garden Centre is using the greenhouses.

Those wishing to sponsor a flower bed should contact Mr Buckland on 01793 463000.