We
nipped over to the Isle of Wight for the day on Saturday. Yes, we
were in Liverpool the previous weekend. That's how the JibberJabber
crew roll. It was a beautiful, sunny day and just like those I have
experienced many times when visiting the Isle of Wight. Although the
island does enjoy a milder sub-climate than much of the rest of the
UK its exposed position also means that gale-force storms can batter
the coastline bringing down piers and causing landslides.
I've
always liked going down Union Street in Ryde. It's quite a steep hill
running down to the seafront and the pier which the trains and
catamaran come into. It's full of a quirky mix of independent shops
that you struggle to find in most towns these days. You can buy a top
of the range camera, check out the latest bikes or read the 1960's
comic you've just bought whilst having a facial. As you stroll down
you start to notice the flower baskets attached to the lamp posts. A
nice summer touch but it doesn't end there.
Once
Union Street hits the Esplanade at the bottom you start to get feel
that the Isle of Wight Council isn't going to stop at a couple of
baskets. It's the sort of municipal planting that went out of fashion
years ago but with the sun bouncing off the azure coloured sea and
stalls selling buckets and spades it's the perfect combination.
There's
a riot of colour from purple petunias...
...to bright red salvias.
Bees are
given treat with a planting of lavender.
This
cheerful display isn't the only reason why I was happy to see all
these flowers. I've long believed in the 'Broken windows' theory. If
one business closes and the shop is left empty soon mail piles up.
Another shop closes and soon shoppers are put off leaving yet more
businesses to flounder. Before long the streets are full of litter
and weeds are growing up through the cracks. Everybody knows how hard
it is for seaside towns to flourish with such cyclical trade and the
vagaries of the English weather. Yet I'm happy to report that on
Saturday Ryde was bustling with shoppers and day trippers like us.
Hats off to you Isle of Wight Council. With so many budget cuts it
can't be an easy decision to keep the flower displays in place but
that investment is bringing people in and we were happy to spend our
cash in local businesses.
I've noticed how good their planting always seems to be. It does make a difference. I'm sure you're right about it helping to stop the tide of empty shops and becoming a no-go area. Villages around us, seem to be banding together and planting up communal areas, rather than waiting for the council. Good to see. #HDYGG
ReplyDeletelooks awesome! loving all the bright colors
ReplyDeleteIt always makes such a difference when a town, village or even city makes an effort to fill areas with flower and cared for nature. You're so right that this feeling of an area being loved and tended will also bring in the shoppers.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree - big kudos the IOW Council. Such public displays of floral can only improve the mood of everyone living and visiting there and making people want to spend more time there can only be good for business! This is such a pretty and positive post my Jibbery Jabbery friend - thanks for joining in and brightening our day! x
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see such bright and cheerful flowers - that multi-tiered one I'm sure defies the laws of gravity. It's been many years since I've been to the IoW - or the Isle of Widget as we convinced my niece it was called before she went on a school trip. Strange thing is now she's working there xx #hdygg
ReplyDeletei do love new adventures and just nipping somewhere, the photos of the flowers are stunning, the colours are so bright
ReplyDelete