Portishead may not be blooming quite so beautifully this summer due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Current Government restrictions in force due to the pandemic has forced community group Portishead in Bloom to put on hold its plans for the summer displays in the town.
The voluntary group, which works tirelessly around the year to ensure Portishead looks its best, has also cancelled its order for plants.
Volunteers were due to strip out the spring bedding this week in preparation to fill the planters and hanging baskets.
But any work is likely to now have to be done later this summer if and when the restrictions are lifted.
The Portishead in Bloom annual Open Gardens event, a major fundraiser for the organisation, has also been scrapped due to the virus.
The news comes after it was announced that the annual South West in Bloom competition has been cancelled.
Over many years the hard work of the team of Portishead in Bloom volunteers have netted the town a gold medal in the contest along with a number of special neighbourhood awards.
Portishead in Bloom chairman Jane Pagano said it was disappointing not to be able to do the summer displays, but their ‘hands were tied.’
Mrs Pagano said: “It is sad but due to the current situation we are not going to be able to do our normal displays this summer.
“Asking our volunteers to drive here with equipment cannot be deemed as essential travel.
“Also many of our volunteers are over 70-years-old which could potentially put them at risk and the work means it would not be able to socially distance from one another.
“We have had to cancel our plant order and our annual open gardens event.
“These are all decisions we have not taken lightly but have involved us following Government advice.”
The current Spring displays in the town are continuing to be watered.
“We are going to try and keep them going as long as we can,” said Mrs Pagano.
“We are very keen to replant later this summer if the restrictions allow us to do so.
“If we reach that point we will just have to do the best with what we have.
“It is disappointing but is out of our hands.
“Hopefully we can get Portishead blooming again by the end of the year.”
