Floral figures removed for annual spruce-up

FAMILIAR floral faces around Tamworth have disappeared for a while this week – but don’t worry, as they’ll be back!

The First World War soldier on the Moor Street traffic island and the Saxon warrior, running man and four swans – all in the Castle Grounds – have become firm favourites with residents and visitors alike and have appeared in hundreds of photographs.

They have also been singled out for praise by the Heart of England in Bloom judges and have helped the borough to win gold for the past six years.

The larger-than-lifesize figures are constructed using a metal frame, which is then stuffed full of hundreds of succulent sempervivum, sedam, and alternanthera plants.

Now, to make sure that the figures continue to look their best, they were  removed from display on Thursday April 30 and taken away for refurbishment and replanting.

The replanting works will be carried out by the R C Smith nursery in Mancetter – and the figures will be back where they belong in plenty of time for the regional Heart of England in Bloom judging day on Tuesday July 14.

Andrew Barratt, Director of Assets & Environment, said: “We get so many positive comments about these figures and we know how popular they are. They are being removed next week, so please bear with us for a few weeks while they are away being refurbished. They will look even better when they return.”