4 March 2013

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

BOTANIST Steve Alton, who ran the Millenium Seed Bank project at Wakehurst Place for 12 years, is to help make East Grinstead bloom next summer.

With his wife Dr Karin Alton, an insect specialist, the pair have devised a wild flower mix which will brighten some of the darker corners around the town for up to six months, and encourage bees.

“There are 40 varieties in the mix we have chosen,” said Steve, “including viper’s bugloss, cornflowers and poppies, which have been selected because they are practical and will help insects to pollinate the area,  and because they have a ‘wow’ factor.”

The East Grinstead in Bloom committee asked Steve for help after reading about the work he has done on grass verges in Ardingly.

The two areas they will seed are around the new East Grinstead railway station and the grassy area on the corner where College Lane meets the Lewes Road.

But if the scheme is successful the knock-on effect could spread around the town, said Steve.

“I’m really excited about this scheme. The changes around the station in particular are going to look great – imagine a splash of colour around the new building.”

And lazy gardeners will be glad to know that Steve is all in favour of mowing the grass a little less too. He suggests lawns should either be dug up and replaced with flowers, or that gardeners should simply mow a pathway through their lawn and let wildflowers grow naturally in the long grass.

Julie Mockford, for the Bloom Committee, said they welcomed Steve’s expertise.

“It’s particularly timely because this year we are entering the whole town into the competition, not just the High Street.”

* Sowing will start this month and the first flowers should be out in June.