It's blooming hot work keeping Bury floral

Parks staff have been battling the heatwave to give Bury St Edmunds a fighting chance of retaining its floral town status.

As even the drought resistant plants struggled, St Edmundsbury's gardening staff and the town's Bury in Bloom organisers were making sure the flowerbeds and hanging baskets lasted the week between regional and national 'In Bloom' judges' visits.

Bury in Bloom coordinator Melanie Lesser said: "We had Anglia in Bloom judges come last week and Britain In Bloom come next Tuesday.

"The heat has made life tricky. We've got bowsers watering the areas we need to water as we're trying to look after the route we plan to take with the judges."

Rebecca Davis, horticultural officer for St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said: "All the plants are affected by the heat – it's a real challenge for everything.

"The areas we're trying to keep blooming, we're watering daily. With the watering, we're not being lavish, we're keeping it to the bare minimum which is why we're not watering all the grass."

They have increasingly used drought resistant plants in recent years but Rebecca says even those are struggling and accepts they will lose some things this year.

She added: "From a horticultural point of view, it's interesting because you get to learn about what's doing well and that helps influence plant choices in future."

Melanie added: "She's being modest – she's done a fantastic job this year."