Community rallies together for bulb planting in South Reading

A TEAM of residents, supported by staff at the Holiday Inn in South Reading, and Reading Council parks team, have come together to enhance an area of land that needed a touch of beauty.

Members of the local community, together with staff from the Holiday Inn and Reading Council, including Cllr Alice Mpofu-Coles, took part in a bulb planting session to help enhance the area on Thursday 27 October.

The grassland, opposite the Holiday Inn Reading South, is part-owned by the hotel and by Reading Council, with joint responsibility for its maintenance. Alongside the day's bulb planting session, there are also plans to add a bench to the area so people can sit and enjoy the wildflowers, and the Council is due to supply several trees for planting later in the year.

Paul Dunn, General Manager at the Holiday Inn, said: “Holiday Inn Reading South and Valor Hospitality are delighted to be part of this initiative and to contribute.  To be part of this community and the rewilding initiative offers a great opportunity for the hotel, and the local community to work together to create a better environment for everyone within the local area.  A huge thank you to all who joined us on the day.”

 Cllr Karen Rowland, Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said: “It was great to have such a fantastic effort from the community coming together to plant bulbs at this location. I know it is something that local Councillors have long wanted to happen for local residents and the area, so I’m delighted to note its success and the exciting forward plans. I am always heartened by the work of volunteers who contribute to rewilding their local areas.

“Our Reading-wide Rewilding scheme continues to prove successful – with many of our verges looking lovelier than ever during the summer whilst critically bolstering our biodiversity links in our busy urban town. The continued positive feedback from residents has been wonderful to see. I look forward to seeing how this little rewilded oasis thrives next year.”

For more information on the COuncil's rewilding project, visit: www.reading.gov.uk/rewilding 

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