Radical change suggested to make Wellington Park flowers cope better with hot summers

FLOWER beds in Wellington Park could be made more resilient to heatwaves and drought after this summer’s record heat.

Town councillors were this week being asked to approve a radical new planting scheme for the award-winning Edwardian Park.

Council open spaces manager Darren Hill said: “Increasingly challenging climatic conditions, including hotter and drier periods during the growing season, are placing greater demands on the maintenance and watering of traditional seasonal bedding displays.

“It is proposed that selected formal flower beds are adapted to create more resilient, sustainable, and cost-effective planting schemes.

“The proposed approach is to replace the current seasonal bedding arrangements in appropriate locations with drought-tolerant planting within a gravel-based landscape scheme.

“At the identified flower bed locations, the existing seasonal bedding displays will be removed and the areas prepared for a more sustainable planting scheme.”

Mr Hill said drought-tolerant and climate-resilient plants would be introduced with a selection which provided colour, structure, and visual interest throughout the year, reducing the reliance on short-term seasonal bedding displays.

He said: “The intention is not to remove planting from these locations, but rather to change the type of planting to one that is better suited to the changing climate and future maintenance requirements.

“Plant selection will focus on species that are suitable for the local conditions and provide a combination of colour, form, texture and seasonal interest.

“Plants will be arranged to maintain an attractive and considered appearance appropriate to the town’s public spaces.”

Mr Hill said decorative gravel would be used to provide a clean and structured finish while allowing the new planting to become the main feature of the beds.

Suitable landscape fabric would be used to suppress weed growth and reduce ongoing maintenance requirements.

Where appropriate, the planting scheme would be reviewed and adjusted following the first growing season to ensure selected plants were performing well in the local conditions.

Mr Hill said the flower beds would continue to be maintained to an appropriate horticultural standard, including watering and routine maintenance.

However, the new flower beds would not need as much watering, which would reduce consumption and costs, while there should also be savings on staff time and maintenance.

Mr Hill said: “The intention is not to remove planting from these locations, but rather to change the type of planting to one that is better suited to the changing climate and future maintenance requirements.

“The formal character and visual appeal of the selected locations will remain an important consideration.

“The proposed changes will therefore contribute toward a more sustainable approach to the management of the town’s public planting areas, while retaining attractive and well-maintained displays for residents and visitors.”

Mr Hill said the initial set up costs were estimated at £2,650, which could be covered by the council’s environment improvements budget.

He said in the longer term, savings could be made through reduced watering, labour, and associated vehicle use, the lower replacement costs compared with annual seasonal bedding, and reduced weed growth and associated maintenance.