Bourne Town Council, The Len Pick Trust and Bournetown.co.uk decorate the streets with flower displays
The streets of Bourne have become flooded with colour in a push to spread cheer and town success.
Despite the cancellation of the East Midlands in Bloom competition, Bourne Town Council - with the help of charities and businesses - decided to continue with plans to create a range of flower displays.
Ian Sismey, clerk to Bourne Town Council, said: “The town council were very keen to enhance everything which we do with plants.
“With this year’s situation we wanted to make the town look better than ever before - I think it does really.
“We are interested in showing the town looks as good as it could in this period now.”
He added: “Everybody coming through the town will think what a lovely little town.”
The plants fill hanging displays and flower beds throughout the town as well as reaching out as far as Dyke.
The team helping with the ‘Blooming Bourne’ displays began propagating and preparing in February so that the flowers would be full of life for summer.
“We said to ourselves lets make sure all plants have come to fruition by June 15; lets make sure on that weekend before the shops reopen everything is in place,” said Ian.
The initiative was supported by The Len Pick Trust and the website Bournetown.co.uk as well as a number of business owners within the town.
Many of the plant pots display a ‘Love Bourne’ banner - an initiative which encourages people to shop at independent businesses.
“There’s more people who shop local than have ever done before,” said Ian.
“I think it’s true here in Bourne.
“We’ve had three new shops open in just a couple of months.
He added:”We want people to appreciate what we have done and we will keep going forward. The more attractive the town is to people, the more people will shop locally.”
The displays continue to be maintained by Bill Pauley who Ian describes as the ‘Mr Green Fingers’ of Bourne.