TEA , good company and community spirit are all helping to keep Ledbury blooming, and its all down to a small number of public-spirited volunteers.

The Garden Group of Ledbury and District U3A held a tea party in the town, on behalf of the town, on Friday August 29.

Guests of honour were mayor of Ledbury, Cllr Bob Barnes and his wife, the mayoress, Carol Barnes, and about 50 people attended an enjoyable fund-raising afternoon.

Proceeds went towards funds to maintain public flower beds in the Walled Garden and Church Lane.

Members of the group who usually visit gardens through the summer were concerned at the beginning of the year of suggestions that Herefordshire Council would not be maintaining flower beds in town as they did previously, because of cuts, and they approached the town council with a view to volunteering their services.

As a consequence, fifteen members have been working in groups on the beds at the top of the Walled Garden and they are also maintaining the rose bed in Church Lane.

Cllr Barnes said “I was privileged to be able to support the community spirit of the U3A gardeners in their work to improve the appearance of the Walled Garden. The cakes were excellent too!”

Sally Holliday, organiser, added: “So far we have raided our own gardens for plants but now we need money for more plants and shrubs to take the project forward.

"The £223.36 raised on Friday will enable us to buy perennial plants and a few shrubs that will provide all-year interest in the borders that we are maintaining. We also want to buy some spring bulbs”.