On their way... hanging baskets built to last

A TOTAL OF 236 summer baskets have been bought by businesses and residents in Henley.

This is slightly down on last year’s record of 273, which commemorated the coronation of King Charles III.

This year’s flowers will include a range of cascading and low-growing clusters and will feature contrasting purple, red, apricot and white colours to provide variation throughout the season.

The baskets are designed maximise the floral impact and attract pollinators. These include Petunia x hybrida “Surfinia Purple”, Pelargonim x peltatum “Cascade Red”, Begonia x tuberhybrida “Illumination Apricot”, Lobelia erinus “Laura White” and Verbena rigida “Venosa Purple”.

Miles Watson-Smyth, the director of Windowflowers, said: “The Petunia produces great long cascading trumpet-shaped flowers in abundance and will give the baskets the floral impact they need.

“The Pelargonium is another trailing plant, which will grow amongst them to break the colour to give a contrast. The Begonia produces rather lovely paler apricot flowers, which again will contrast and give presence at this time of the year before the basket matures.

“The white Lobelia is a small flower, which again contrasts against the other stronger colours and the purple Verbena gives more structure to the basket.”

The baskets are part of Henley in Bloom’s annual campaign to brighten up the town and is supported by the Henley Standard.

Mr Watson-Smyth said he has been delighted with the response, despite not breaking last year’s record.

He said: “During a period when expenditure is tight, we are thrilled that businesses and residents still feel it’s important to place an order during the current economic climate.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s not a year for setting records, it’s a year for consolidation for Henley in Bloom, which is so important

“We hope to be part of the entry to the Britain in Bloom competition next year and its success next year, which is aiming for gold once more.”

Mayor Kellie Hinton, who is vice-chairwoman of Henley in Bloom, said that despite not entering the Bloom competition this year, the baskets are still important for the town and its economy.

She said: “We still want the town to look beautiful with vibrant and attractive flowers, as this makes people want to return and spend money in our shops and businesses.”

Diana Barnett, a member of Greener Henley and an environmental campaigner who has called on Henley Town Council to ban pesticides, said it is encouraging to see the use of pollinators in this year’s baskets. “Anything which has nice wide easy access is great for pollinators,” she said.

“Verbena is a very good flower for pollinators as well as Petunias because they are trumpet-type flowers and are quite accessible, but it all depends if the insect can get to the pollen easily to be able to do their job.”

Ms Barnett says the use of pollinators, to attract bees, flies and beetle-like insects, are important to keep the ecosystem thriving.

She said: “We are losing our pollinators rapidly due to all sorts of reasons, but a plant can make such a significant difference, so it’s important to make sure we keep our environment full plants to encourage them.”