There’s nothing like a bunch of flowers to cheer you up. In Paulton, the equivalent of 36 bunches have been delivered in the centre of the village, where the summer’s first batch of hanging baskets have gone up.

For the first time, these baskets are a unique celebration of community spirit, with the backing and effort of several stakeholders contributing together towards the colourful scene. Property owners and tenants are hosting the baskets on their properties; the new water-saving containers were funded by Ward Councillors, Liz Hardman and John Bull, the floral filling was paid for by Paulton Parish Council, the organisation, hanging and watering has been provided by the seven volunteers from Pride in Paulton (PiP), and the floral displays can be enjoyed by everyone who lives, works and visits Paulton.

PiP has been preparing the village to look its best for this year’s Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) South West in Bloom competition. They are confident the new water-saving containers, which are uniquely marked and secured, will earn points for environmental responsibility as well as community participation and horticultural achievement.

This month, PiP will lead RHS South West in Bloom judges on a tour of the area. The results will be announced in October in Torquay. The seven volunteers have been planting spring bulbs and vegetables with local youngsters, renovating the village’s four heritage fingerposts, installing new and bigger planters at Downsway, Elm Road and Paulto’ Hill, and having a spring planting and tidy up at Paulton Memorial Hospital.

Becky Parker, Chair of PiP said: “Paulton is a lively community with a great spirit and it is heartwarming to see residents, councillors and volunteers coming together to raise this year’s hanging baskets. Anyone and everyone can do whatever suits them to bring a shine to the village – adding a few plants in the front garden, planting up a flower tub, even picking some litter or weeding a pavement can make a big difference and show that Paulton matters, to the people who live and work here, and to visitors they welcome.”

The colour theme for this year is sapphire and gold – sapphire for HM the Queen’s 65 years on the throne, complementing Hill Court’s fifty years on the High Street.