A season of growth
As spring gives way to early summer, the council’s external works team are entering one of the busiest times of the year.
With warmer weather and rising ground temperatures, the town’s green spaces are beginning to burst into life, bringing lots of fresh colour back to the gardens.
From mid-May, the team will be busy planting flower beds across the gardens, including a brand-new summer bedding feature at the main entrance gates.
Meanwhile, the barrier tubs and hanging baskets are currently being carefully grown at local nurseries and will begin appearing along the seafront throughout June, adding vibrant displays for residents and visitors to enjoy during the summer season.
Seasonal maintenance continues across all green spaces, with gardeners pruning winter-interest shrubs such as ghost brambles and dogwoods, helping to keep planting schemes healthy and well-shaped.
As growth accelerates, the team is also focused on essential tasks including weeding, grass cutting and strimming.
The grass-cutting season traditionally runs from April through to November, reflecting the town’s mild coastal climate, and the council’s commitment to maintaining a prominent public garden.
Following weeding, the team uses recycled mushroom and horse manure compost to mulch beds and borders, a sustainable approach that helps retain moisture, improve soil health and reduce the need for additional watering.
A particularly welcome development this spring has been the arrival of new community garden volunteers, who have been working tirelessly over the past two months preparing soil, removing stones and planting vegetable plugs and seeds.
Their enthusiasm and commitment are already making a visible difference, and the council is pleased to support their efforts as the project continues.
Sustainability remains a key priority for the council, and as part of its environmental initiative and ambition to achieve net zero by 2030, a significant proportion of petrol-powered tools and machinery will gradually be replaced with battery-powered alternatives.
These tools will be charged using electricity generated from solar panels installed on council buildings, helping to reduce emissions while making use of renewable energy.
Alongside the work in our gardens and green spaces, the maintenance team continues to ensure the town remains welcoming and well cared for.
This includes keeping beach huts in good condition, maintaining town noticeboards, and carrying out ongoing painting and repairs to council-owned buildings.
Preparations are also underway to ensure signage for the park and ride scheme is ready in time for the busy Whitsun period.
With several exciting projects on the horizon, the coming months promise to be just as busy, and residents can look forward to seeing more improvements and enhancements across the town.
Watch this space for future updates in ‘gardens and beyond’.