Chance to tour Shrewsbury Town Council greenhouse

The council is offering people the opportunity to join the town's Bloom Committee for the annual behind the scenes tour of the greenhouse at Weeping Cross.

The site nurtures more than 300,000 blooms which are cultivated each year for the town’s award-winning floral displays.

The greenhouse is currently "packed to the rafters" with blooms ready for summer planting, with hundreds of commercial baskets ready to go out to the town's businesses.

Tens of thousands of plants which will feature around the town, as well as thousands of bedding plants and hundreds of standard fuchsias destined for Shrewsbury’s 365-days- a-year show garden in the Dingle are also grown in there.

Keith Roberts, Shrewsbury in Bloom chairman, said: “Following the success of this event in previous years, we are once again pleased to be able to provide this fantastic opportunity to get a glimpse of what goes into making Shrewsbury The Town of Flowers.

"This is a wonderful time to visit the greenhouse which is full of blooms destined for the numerous summer planting schemes around the town, and the flowers look and smell fantastic.

"The open event is also an opportunity to get useful tips from the experts who will be on hand to answer your questions and queries, from how to grow beautiful begonias to marvellous marigolds.”

The Shrewsbury in Bloom Committee is inviting members of the public to attend the open evening event, which takes place on May 24 from 6pm.

Guests will be given a guided tour of the greenhouse, with planting demonstrations, and there will also be an opportunity to put questions to the Town Council’s gardening staff and Bloom Committee members.

Light refreshments will also be provided.

Registration for the open evening is essential. Requests should be sent to hilary.humphries-stc@shropshire.gov.uk by close of business on May 19.

Shrewsbury in Bloom is a non-profit committee which brings together interested groups and individuals to implement a programme for Shrewsbury's floral enhancement, environmental improvements and community projects.

It is the driving force behind Shrewsbury's annual entry into the Heart of England in Bloom competition.

The Shrewsbury in Bloom Committee is interested in welcoming new members and anyone who would like more information on what is involved should contact Gary Farmer on 01743 257651 for further details.