Spring brings colour at last to Shrewsbury's Dingle

The lovingly-landscaped Dingle sunken garden in The Quarry is returning to its technicolour best after this year's long winter – with about 20,000 plants on display.

The garden, which is tended to by a small team of experts employed by Shrewsbury Town Council, is springing back to life as this year's floral displays come to bloom following the warmer temperatures of recent weeks.

Wallflowers, pansies, tulips and daffodils are all part of this season's display.

The good weather across Shropshire is set to continue over the next few days, with temperatures set to reach 15C (59F) in Shawbury today and tomorrow.

Mark Bowen, foreman for The Quarry, said: "Our early tulips were out about a month ago but the best has started coming out with the warmer weather. Now it is coming into full bloom.

"Definitely spring is the best time because everything is fresh, new and clean after the cold weather."

Mr Bowen said this year's blooms were around two to three weeks later than normal because of the county's long winter.

He said planning for the spring and summer planting starts a year in advance, with photographs taken of the flowerbed areas to work out what can be improved in 12 months' time.

"We are always trying to improve and make it better. We are just trying to keep the interest alive."

Mr Bowen said work in the Dingle, the Quarry and St Chad's churchyard is carried out by himself and another colleague, along with an apprentice.

He said the plants in the Dingle will be changed again in June in time for the summer season.

The Dingle features ornamental season flowerbeds, ornamental grass areas, rockeries, shrub bed areas and various water features and is open on a daily basis for visitors to the Quarry to enjoy.

The garden sits at the heart of the 29-acre Quarry, which is the venue for the annual Shrewsbury Flower Show each year.