Borough springs to life!

8.21.50pm GMT Fri 23rd Feb 2007

Record numbers of bulbs planted by Richmond Council will lead to parks and grass verges being transformed into a dazzling blaze of colour.

A record 180,000 daffodil bulbs were planted by the Council's parks and open spaces team last autumn - and the borough is now reaping the benefits. Over the last two years, a total of 295,000 daffs have been planted in parks and on highway verges. The Council has linked up with a Dutch bulb grower and all the bulbs have been planted mechanically in recent years, rather than by hand. This, coupled with the programme of street tree planting - more than 500 new trees were planted this winter - is further evidence of the Council's determination to ensure the borough remains one of the greenest in the capital.

Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Martin Elengorn, said: "We are planting more bulbs than ever before and, as they start to flower, residents and visitors to the borough will be able to put the winter blues behind them and enjoy these spectacular displays."