Primary pupils show touch of flower power

Green-fingered children from four primary schools will be bringing a bit of colour to Staffordshire when they take over flowerbeds in a town centre.

Cannock pupils from St Luke's, St Mary's, Bridgtown and Longford primary schools will start gardening at the beds near the bowling green at the High Green end of the town on March 7. It also marks the start of a competition for the best flowerbed, where the blooms are due to be judged in the summer. They will create a project plan for planting bulbs with Cannock Chase Council street wardens.

The project has seen businesses, street wardens and low-risk offenders on the "community payback" scheme work together to get the flowerbeds ready for the children.

Sgt Jason Dorrington said: "This scheme will include a number of people from a diverse section of our community – including young people and low-risk offenders.

"The support being offered by local businesses and the partnership working between various agencies is invaluable to the success of this initiative," he added.

The scheme had been given support from J Murphys and Son in Cannock who have assisted with jetwashing and a water source and South Staffordshire Water which has given a water hydrant, water usage and license free of charge.

Forest of Mercia are loaning hand tools, Biffa has provided 20 bags of fertiliser and shrubs have been donated by C Piper and Sons Ltd and Hatherton Aquatics and Nurseries.

Rhona Gudgin, street warden manager, said: "This is one of the many projects that street wardens will be working on with local schools this year.

"We are looking forward to working with pupils on the flowerbeds in Cannock town centre, taking on the good work that has been done with low-risk offenders by the police.

"Part of our role as street wardens is to encourage local people into their town centres.

"Projects like this can help to make Cannock town centre more colourful and attractive."