Volunteers from the Friends of Botany Bay CIC have planted the length of Princess Margaret Avenue in Palm Bay with mixed daffodil bulbs as part of an initiative supported by County Councillor Lesley Game.
Despite atrocious weather at times, the work has been completed with beds of bulbs at regular intervals along the avenue. The group had already lobbied KCC Highways and successfully raised funding for trees that were planted earlier this year.
Barry Manners, who leads the group, praised volunteers for their support, saying: “The weather was especially unkind, and the bulbs had to be in before Christmas to stand a chance of a decent first year display.
“We were fortunate to have the support of KCC Councillor, Lesley Game. She helped liaise with the Highways team on permissions and methodology as well as helping with a members’ grant. “Over half the money was from our Southern Water supported Beach Clean Fund. Volunteers have contributed a great many hours’ beach cleaning this year – freeing up some of the budget for paid cleaners.
“With Southern Water’s encouragement, this money has been used to support this planting initiative – we’re also going to be able to offer residents almost free fruit trees for front gardens in the area in January.”
Cllr Game added: “The vibrant displays of flowers that were once the hallmark of seaside communities like Cliftonville are now next to impossible, with stretched council budgets and the ever increasing demands from other sectors.
“So it’s really gratifying to work with groups like Friends of Botany Bay who share a vision to increase biodiversity with displays that will delight residents and visitors in Spring. I’m looking at ideas with Barry Manners on how the voluntary sector can further complement council roadside verge planting and management to create garden spaces that residents can be proud of and that will add to the overall visitor experience.”
Mr Manners, who is also a district councillor, said: “The floral displays on public land in Thanet were once a source of pride to residents and wonder for visitors. Princess Margaret Avenue is a principal thoroughfare for visitors to our coastline and first impressions are really important. “There are groups across the isle making progress towards restoring some of these spaces, and we’re really proud to be able to work towards the same goal.
“ I will be approaching Southern Water early in the New Year for continued support of both our beach cleaning work, but also, increasingly, to develop biodiversity and displays that will improve the local area for residents and visitors.”
Let’s hope driver’s don’t park on the grass verges, because we all know driver’s love to park on verges instead of the road because they don’t care about the area which they and others live in .
There are a lot of cars, vans, and sometimes bigger vehicles with 2 wheels or completely up on the grass verges down there. You can tell where they are regular as of all the muddy tracks instead of grass. Maybe some signs can be put in the verges to warn drivers that bulbs are coming up would help.
This is such a good idea though. More trees need putting in to line this avenue though
It needs posts in the ground, not just signs. Westgate Bay Avenue is evn worse!
There are plenty of drivers who think it is okay to park their vehicles on those grass verges instead of on their drives, also delivery vehicles often park 2 wheels up on the grass. Please warn them that bulbs are coming up with some signs.
Such a great idea otherwise.
How long before the council mow all these down when they’re flowering?
lets hope there are no tree rats = grey squirrels in that area , they will blitz those bulbs once they find them sadly