A TOWN’S hanging baskets will stay up for longer – with special thanks to our Summer weather/

The period of time for which Wotton’s hanging baskets are to be left up is to be extended following a meeting of the Wotton in Bloom Committee last week.

As a result of the good weather, and the way in which they have been fed and maintained this summer, the decision has been made to fund an extra three weeks of watering and feeding.

Chair of the Wotton in Bloom Committee Sue Hunt has been overwhelmed by the compliments that have come her way.

She said: “Since we started this project five years ago we would have been looking at taking them down about now but how could we do that when they are still looking so wonderful and with so many people enjoying the colour and the scent?”

She attributes their success this year to a lucky combination of three things.

She continued: “The good weather has undoubtedly been a big factor but also in the equation is the secret recipe for the compost that the Wotton Farm Shop mixed when they supplied the baskets, along with the feeding and watering regime that David Howse from DR Howse Services has provided.

“You only have to compare them with other baskets that we did not supply to see the difference.

“But all of this comes at a price. It is costing over £400 a week to have them up; money which we have worked hard for through donations, sponsorship and fund-raising and money which we won’t have for next year when we are expecting things to be even more difficult.

“The committee has made a brave decision to use the money now while we are all enjoying their beauty and to worry about next year when it comes.”

The Wotton in Bloom team, comprised entirely of volunteers, has spent many months campaigning to raise sufficient money to ensure that hanging baskets can be placed around the town and kept fed and watered for the summer months.

The project is a collaboration between the town’s Regeneration Partnership and Chamber of Trade.

Anyone wishing to join the team or make a donation to the project can contact Sue Hunt on 01453 521263 or via suehunt2@btinternet.com.

Direct donations can be made through the One Stop Shop in the Civic Centre or The Market Place in Long Street.