At a time when there seems to be so little good news to be had , there was a reason to be cheerful in Newton Abbot.

Members of the Newton Abbot Community Interest Company and Sally Henley donned their gardening gloves and planted up the previously forlorn and empty planters in Newfoundland Way. 

If someone has done good deed in your neighbourhood please let us know at [email protected]

Sally Henley, Newton Abbot town development manager, said: I’m so pleased that community groups have come together in order to make a difference to our environment.

‘The Christmas trees were very jolly, but I was conscious that we needed a permanent solution to make the most of these planters all year round.

‘We have all admired the wonderful greening work, which the CIC has done at Penn Inn and I was hoping that they might be able to help with this project. They have come up trumps!

‘Svetlana has a wealth of gardening and plant knowledge and the plants which she has selected look superb and enhance the rest of the area where similar species can be found.

‘It was wonderful how many members of the public showed their appreciation as we worked and it would be superb if we could tackle more of the town as a community.

John Pike, vice chair of Newton Abbot Community Interest Company, said: ‘The concrete tubs outside the Magistrates’ Courts have been empty for a long time – apart from over the Christmas period when they were imaginatively planted with Christmas trees. So we were pleased to have been asked to re-plant them with attractive, relatively low-maintenance species having all-year-round interest, which we think will help brighten up that part of the town.’

‘Following the success of our planting at Penn Inn roundabout, we are keen to work with local volunteers to plant and look after the shrub and flower beds and small green spaces around the town which have become sad and neglected because the authorities currently don’t have the resources to look after them.’

The CIC would love to hear from anyone who would like to get involved - perhaps with a particularly sad shrub or flower bed or one near where you live. Please email [email protected] or call (01626) 206690 if you are interested.

Pictured, from left Svetlana Pike, Emily Farrell, business and community development manager Newton Abbot CIV, Sally Henley, Newton Abbot town development manager, John Pike, vice chair of Newton Abbot Community Interest Company.

Picture: courtesy of Ali Macphee Miracle PRIf someone has done good deed in your neighbourhood please let us know at [email protected]