Blades and glass found in Portishead bloom tubs

A VOLUNTEER planting floral tubs in Portishead narrowly escaped injury when she discovered a rusty blade and glass buried under the soil.

Penny Dumble, 61, a helper with Portishead in Bloom, was replanting tubs on the High Street by the PDSA charity shop when she discovered a rusty stanley blade in one tub and a handful of smashed glass in another.

Fortunately Mrs Dumble, who has been helping the group since 2008, was using a trowel and wearing thick gardening gloves.

Both the items had been buried a couple of inches under the soil, leading members of the group to believe they may have been put there deliberately.

This is not the first time unpleasant items have been found stuffed in the 51 large floral tubs placed around the town.

Only last year volunteers picked up a dirty hypodermic syringe jammed in one of the planters by the Waitrose garage at Station Road.

The volunteer who found the needle had to undergo a series of precautionary tests and treatment before being given the all clear.

Mrs Dumble said: "There had been problems with people stealing flowers from the tubs, so I offered to go and replace some of the plants.

"It was while I was digging over the earth in the two tubs that I discovered the rusty blade and the glass.

"They were placed a couple of inches under the ground and almost as if they had been put there on purpose.

"It was the last thing I expected to find when I was putting in the plants and I was quite shocked."

Portishead was awarded a gold medal for its floral displays and care of the town at last year's South West in Bloom awards.

The 12 strong committee, helped by a team of around 20 volunteers, work tirelessly through the year to ensure the town looks its best throughout the seasons and for the annual judging visit each July.

Portishead in Bloom chairman, Sandy Tebbutt, said she was disgusted that such dangerous items were found in the tubs.

Mrs Tebbutt said: "Penny had given up her time on a cold and damp morning to replant these tubs.

"As a result of these finds we are now giving all our volunteers a health and safety talk at the start of every work session.

"We regularly find glass and other rubbish thrown on top of the tubs and we remove any items and throw them straight in the bin.

"To put glass and a blade in a tub like this is a dreadful way to behave which could have left someone injured.

"We rely on volunteers to ensure the town looks its best - without their support we would be lost."

Portishead in Bloom is already planning a number of initiatives this Spring and summer including replanting a flower bed at West Hill with several hundred heather plants.

Volunteers have also been working on a project to plant up a new flowerbed outside the town's open air pool.

Anyone seen tampering with any of the town's tubs and floral arrangements is being urged to contact the police.

People wanting to get involved with Portishead in Bloom should log onto www.portisheadinbloom.org.uk.