Chris Geiger

Miracles do happen I thought as I pulled back the curtains at 5am the other morning.

Only the previous day I’d been wittering on in my column about what a blooming nuisance litter louts were, and how they cost us taxpayers £850 million in England last year.

As I drank my first coffee of the morning, I watched a flock of bright orange tabards picking up rubbish. I’d assumed the council had, on reading my article dispatched a team of offenders, desperate to accumulate additional hours of community service.

On closer inspection, once the caffeine was taking effect, I spotted the words ‘Portishead in Bloom’ printed on the backs of those stuffing bin bags with rubbish left behind by individuals too lazy to take it home.

By the time I’d finished my cereal, the volunteers had completed collecting the rubbish. This is a job I assumed should have been performed by the council, after all they’re not shy about collecting our council tax.

Next an assortment of petrol strimmers, top soil and bedding plants appeared. I was half expecting to see Alan Titchmarsh. Nope these unpaid saints continued working like a swarm of bees.

After a shower and applying my daily assortment of deodorants, moisturisers and hair gels. I watched with astonishment as hundreds of plants were carefully planted.

After checking my diary, thinking I must have forgotten I had royalty visiting, I powered up my laptop. A couple of clicks on Google and I was on the Portishead in Bloom website. It transpired the main purpose of this hard working team is to make our town look as lovely as possible all year round. They’ve entered the South West in Bloom competition run by the Royal Horticultural Society, since 1996, and done rather well. Winning a minimum of a silver medal and gold for the last three years.

In addition, the Portishead in Bloom team created the “boat” roundabout, which welcomes people to the town, and set up Pride in Portishead, a group that meets monthly to clear litter in the town.

So if you wish to be suspected as a local offender, have green fingers, or even enjoy working like a slave early in the morning, can I suggest you contact the Portishead in Bloom team. They’d love to hear from you. If this doesn’t appeal, do me and the volunteers a favour.... Don’t drop your litter.

Judging day for Britain in Bloom is from midday on Monday August 2.

Chris Geiger is an ambassador for Cancer Research UK, to donate directly call 020 7242 0200 or visit www.Donate.Chris Geiger.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @Chris_Geiger.