THE civic displays of flowers in St Austell this year have been hailed as a huge success.

In a report to town councillors, grounds maintenance operations manager Steve Skinner says the success is due not just to traditional formal planting but also the displays provided by wildflower areas.

Mr Skinner said his team had received a number of very positive comments, particularly about the blend of formal planting and wildflowers in the new flower beds at Mount Charles roundabout but also about the Asda roundabout and other wildflower areas.

The team have even observed one member of the public pulling over and talking selfies with the flowers at Daniels Lane.

Over the winter, new wildflower areas were created at Bethel Park, Daniels Lane, Mount Charles roundabout and the Penwinnick Road verge. This means the team has now established six wildflower areas in the town.

Mr Skinner said grassed areas at Jubilee Meadow, Penmere Road and Polmarth Close had also been left to grow wild this summer to help increase biodiversity, and his staff had received very positive feedback from members of the public.

He said: “The team has performed remarkably well in what has been a very mixed summer weatherwise to not only provide the capacity to keep the grass cutting on a much more frequent cycle but also to stay on top of other vital summer maintenance, such as weeding, watering and reactive works such as vandalism repairs and graffiti in parks.

“It is expected that, due to the mild weather, the cutting season will run well into November and that nine cuts will have been completed this season.

“Of the 5,500 plants planted for summer this year, around 700 have been grown from seed or plugs in the town council’s polytunnel.”

Mr Skinner, whose team is also responsible for the management of play equipment, said: “Play equipment continues to be inspected across all parks on a regular basis. Well-equipped busy parks such as Poltair, Truro Road, Bethel, Sandy Hill, Woodland Road and the Meadows are inspected weekly, with the play equipment on the rest of the sites being inspected fortnightly.”