COMMUNITY leaders are joining forces in a bid to keep Peebles blooming after Scottish Borders Council announced it would be pruning back on seasonal planting displays.

Green-fingered locals and businesses are being invited to dig deep to protect the beauty of the town by sponsorship or volunteering.

The local authority announced that, from autumn, it will stop planting flower beds around which will be replaced with shrubs or herbaceous borders.

Voluntary group Bonnie Peebles adopted many of the town’s bedding areas and have worked tirelessly for the last decade to keep the town flourishing.

But the organisation, who has won several awards for their community gardening efforts, is unable to add more displays to their workload.

A rescue mission has been launched by the town’s Community Council and Community Trust.

Chairman of the Community Council Les Turnbull said: “Businesses in Peebles are increasingly reliant on visitors and tourism and any deterioration in the appearance of the town makes it a less attractive place to visit.

“We have joined forces with Peebles Community Trust to try and find new ways of protecting the appearance of the town. If sufficient volunteers can be found along with additional funding it is hoped that it might be possible to keep these flower beds looking beautiful each summer. “

Bonnie Peebles has shown the way and are willing to share their knowledge and expertise with new volunteers.

Mr Turnbull added: “Peebles is widely known to be a beautiful place to visit and the floral displays by both Bonny Peebles and SBC are a joy to look at. That we might lose many of these flower beds, mostly in prominent parts of the town, does not bear thinking about. Residents and visitors find them attractive and there is no doubt that they improve the look of the town.

“It is clear that Scottish Borders Council is struggling financially, that means we have to find new ways of doing things if we are to protect the town.”

The colourful baskets that adorn lampposts around the town, and tubs of flowers on pavements that are pleasing to the eye of pedestrians, will also be scrapped.

“If the community want to preserve the beauty of the town, then the community must support efforts to do so, Mr Turnbull stressed. “Bonnie Peebles cannot do any more without assistance, we need to support them.”

Lawrie Hayworth, Chairman of the Peebles Community Trust called on the support of local businesses.

He says, “There are businesses in the town that depend on Peebles remaining an attractive place to visit, surely they can help to support efforts to maintain these flower beds. There are a number of ways they could do so, by sponsoring specific flower beds which are in close proximity to their business for example.

“This could be marked by a sign showing the sponsoring company and could probably be paid for out of marketing budgets. Someone or a company could decide to sponsor the hanging baskets on the High Street or a number of businesses could come together to do so.”

The community leaders stressed the need for help is urgent as this summer is the last time the local authority will be planting up and maintaining the beds.

If they are to be saved then volunteers need to raise their hand before discussions take place with the council regarding planting for the next season.

People who would like to volunteer, or are considering the benefits of sponsorship should contact the Peebles Community Trust at the School Brae Hub or by email admin@peeblescommunity.org