Shropshire bloom group's despair at plant thefts

Claverley in Bloom will be competing in two national gardening competitions over the next two months but have grown frustrated with the thefts.

Chairman Rod Parr said the monetary value was not an issue but each time the plants were removed the group had to start from scratch, which put back the time taken for the displays to come into full bloom.

He said: "It's got to the stage now where we might have to stop using planters in certain areas around the village because the flowers keep being stolen.

"We've had two thefts in 10 days with half of the plants from a planting trough on the road out to Heathton being ripped up.

"Two plants have also been taken from Winchester cross roads, which is a prominent site and has become one of our biggest displays outside the village centre.

"I have reported it to the police but in the meantime we'd just ask villagers to keep their eyes open."

Villagers in Claverley, near Bridgnorth, have been busy preparing for the Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom UK finals this year. The awards are seen as the pinnacle of the community gardening world and Claverley will battle it out in the village category.

The group, which is made up of volunteers, was one of six to be nominated by the Heart of England in Bloom to compete in the national finals after impressing during the regional stage of last year's competition.

Claverley will be judged alongside eight other villages in the finals on August 8 as well as welcoming Heart of England judges in mid July.