HOSEPIPE ban? What hosepipe ban?

With a little ingenuity and some help from Honda, the grounds crew from Stratton St Margaret Parish Council will be watering their flowers as usual this summer.

Earlier this month we told how Swindon Council faced being unable to water the £10,000-worth of plants it had ordered for the year.

Thames Water’s hosepipe ban left the local authority with the prospect of trying to obtain drought-hardy alternatives from its suppliers at short notice.

The seven-strong crew at the parish council depot off Ermin Street came up with another idea entirely for their part of the town, though.

Head groundsman Danny Mason, 44, said: “We were looking at ways of collecting rainwater to use for bedding plants and it came to light that Honda have to pay a company to take away 1,000 litre plastic containers. They offered them to us for free and we realised it would be an ideal solution.”

The team positioned the containers to collect rainwater as it flowed from the roof of their headquarters, and have filled several already.

The water will be used to make sure 3,500 geraniums, marigolds, dahlias, begonias, trailing lobelias and other bedding plants will bloom as usual on verges, in tubs and in other public areas.

“We plan to have everything planted in time for the Diamond Jubilee,” Mr Mason added.

Parish council finance committee chairman John Foley joked: “Where Stratton St Margaret leads, Swindon follows!

“This idea is very innovative – we’re always thinking of ways to save money, and this one will save the floral displays.”