IN RESPONSE to the letter from Dr Roger Murphy (Wilts and Glos Standard, April 23), I would say: “Yes, the town would benefit from more hanging baskets and flowers.”

I write on behalf of the Phoenix Gardeners, a group of volunteers who for the last three years have been planting and maintaining tubs in the town.

We have doubled the number of tubs, so that now there are 45, and have started to reintroduce hanging baskets in the town. Dr Murphy makes it seem as if this is something that a town council should do.

In all the examples cited, the work has been carried out by groups of volunteers who have had active support from those communities.

In Cricklade the Chamber of Commerce led the sponsorship of the hanging baskets as part of an active desire to improve Cricklade for residents.

Tetbury has had a “Tetbury in Bloom” campaign for 15 years, regularly holding fundraising activities which has helped to put an extensive watering system in place, reducing the demand on volunteers.

We strongly believe that tubs and hanging baskets make towns more attractive to residents and visitors alike and we feel that we have the general support of the community.

When working on the tubs or in the Abbey Grounds we routinely receive compliments from passers-by who all say they would like to see more planting within the town. But to achieve better floral displays we need to have whole-hearted community involvement of businesses and volunteers.

If you would like to support the Phoenix Gardeners you can do this by helping to adopt a tub – either by sponsoring one, or by helping to maintain one.

You can help by buying plants from our stall outside the church on May 30, and you can keep saying “Yes, the town would benefit from more hanging baskets and flowers.”

To contact the Phoenix Gardeners get in touch c/o Meg Blumsom by emailing megblumsom@gmail.com or calling 01285657696

MEG BLUMSON

Phoenix Gardeners