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Volunteers in Bristol are feeling disheartened after a large planting initiative was undone just days following the effort. About 70 people took part in planting 30,000 bulbs in St George Park as part of a community-led project aimed at enhancing local wildlife habitats. However, council workers mowed over the newly planted bulbs shortly after, leaving many involved in disbelief.
Ailie Tam, a member of the Friends of St George Park group, described the experience as “really demoralising.” She explained that the event required months of preparation and collaboration with the council’s conservation and parks teams. The bulbs themselves were funded through fundraising efforts, including the sale of 12,000 bags of duck food. Tam also shared the emotional impact of seeing the work destroyed, saying, “I got up and took my kids the next morning and they were so upset. It’s just the disbelief of it. It took a lot of time, a lot of money and a lot of effort. It’s just such a waste and it’s so disheartening.”
Victoria Bromley, another volunteer, highlighted her personal involvement, recalling how excited her four-year-old daughter was to plant the bulbs. She expressed frustration over the council’s mowing, stating, “I was so excited to bring her back, that was her little patch of flowers, so to see them cut off at the stalks is such an own goal by the council.” Meanwhile, Tam noted that the council’s operations team, responsible for mowing, apparently had prior knowledge of the planting but had not responded to the volunteers’ concerns.
In response to the incident, Bristol City Council acknowledged the upset caused to the community and confirmed that an investigation is underway. A spokesperson said, “Officers are investigating the events around the mowing of this area and will liaise directly with the ward councillors and local volunteers to address the situation.” Tam emphasized the need for a “cultural shift” and a constructive dialogue about supporting parks groups, especially as council budgets shrink, warning that without such conversations, continued damage to community efforts will remain “really demoralising.
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