HENLEY is looking its blooming best just days after a vandal pulled up the town’s flowers and left them strewn along the High Street.
On Sunday morning (August 4) a man was seen ripping up the plants, which were found along the pavement and on top of cars.
But within hours of the incident being reported on social media, members of the community of all ages turned out to get the town back to its best.
A fund-raising campaign was also started to buy more flowers. So far it has doubled its £500 target, with some 70 people donating.
Since then the culprit has apologised to those affected and offered to pay for new blooms. It is understood no action will be taken by the police.
Becky Mead, who started the fund-raising page, told the Observer: “It was disappointing but the people in Henley are very forgiving and something good has come of it.
“Everyone whose flowers were damaged is grateful for him making an effort to make amends for what happened.
“I wanted to raise money for replacement bedding plant and hope we can get together as a community to help replant them together to make our town beautiful. People here work hard to make their homes, public areas and streets look fantastic.
“Myself and my children also think some of the money could be used to buy a new water feature in the jubilee gardens for the community to enjoy.”
And Henley In Bloom were delighted at the reaction of the community coming out to help replant their beloved flowers.
Spokeswoman Sheila Davies said: “The reaction was splendid. I was told at 9am on Sunday morning and by 10.30am you wouldn’t have known anything had gone on.
“It was a disappointment it happened in the first place but the reaction from the community has been so positive.
“The flowers are a real town effort which schools and community groups are involved in. Some residents and businesses also help look after them and we have people calling to ask about the colour scheme so they can plant their own and make Henley look its best.”
Visit www.gofundme.com/f/henley-in-bloom to donate to the fund-raising campaign.
