Thieves stealing flowers from Hastings town centre planters

John said: “It happens on an almost daily basis. Plant theft from the Love Hastings flower troughs seems to be a perennial problem, with our green fingers constantly having to keep up with light-fingered garden pests. “We would genuinely like to get to the root of why people choose to steal from public displays, weed out the problem once and for all, and encourage those responsible to turn over a new leaf. “In all seriousness, businesses continue to support this work, even through difficult times, by contributing to the Business Improvement District. So it's hugely frustrating to go around town each week watering, weeding and deadheading the displays, only to find fresh gaps where healthy, thriving plants have been ripped out. “Sometimes the plants have disappeared completely. On other occasions, they have simply been pulled from the troughs and left in the road to die. It's pointless, and destructive behaviour, and deeply dispiriting for everyone who puts time, money and care into trying to make the town centre look better." "We have almost 100 planters around the town, which have been in place since 2018. They were originally stocked by Rotherview Nurseries, but replanting also uses a variety of species from other local growers, including The Parchment Trust's brilliant Friary Gardeners Nursery, which gives horticultural training and work experience to adults with learning disabilities and autism.

"We've also added in some specimens this year from Great Dixter, at Northiam, and in the autumn we're hoping to get funding to help totally renew a lot of them with the types of plants that Great Dixter head gardener Fergus Garrett has trialled on the seafront in advance of the Green Connections project. Many of these are thriving in a low-maintenance environment and look spectacular."