Verwood | Posted on October 26th, 2026 | return to news

Verwood to bloom in the spring

Verwood & District Horticultural Society, Dorset Council, the Town Council and Verwood Solar Farm have collaborated in a planting project.

Verwood & District Horticultural Society has led an ambitious community planting project with help from Dorset Council, Verwood Town Council and the Verwood Solar Farm.

Over two days in October more than 40 volunteers joined forces to plant an impressive 12,000 bulbs and more than 2,000 wildflower plug plants ahead of the Society’s 80th anniversary in 2027.

On Saturday 17 October, more than 25 volunteers from across the town took part in the Society’s Community Planting Day, planting English bluebells, snowdrops and cowslips along Champtoceaux Avenue and on the approach into The Albion pub. Volunteers of all ages worked side by side, with Verwood’s Mayor, Cllr Simon Gibson, who also rolled up his sleeves to lend a hand.

Cllr Gibson said: “It is encouraging to see so many people willing to give up their time to plant bulbs, encourage wildlife and work together for the betterment of our town. This is a great example of the Council and community working together and I hope it is just the start of many more projects, both here in Verwood and across the local area.”

Delivered in partnership with Dorset Council, the project has enabled roadside verges across the town to be planted with a wide range of native wildflowers. These include red campion, sheep’s sorrel, birdsfoot trefoil, common mallow, meadow cranesbill and greater knapweed, alongside other varieties chosen specifically to support local wildlife.

The community effort continued Monday 19 October, when 15 volunteers from JPMorganChase helped complete the planting. Further areas along Ringwood Road and near the entrance to Potterne Park were planted, while Leiderbach Green received a generous addition of wild daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) bulbs.

The project was conceived as a fitting way to celebrate 80 years of the Verwood & District Horticultural Society in 2027. Rather than marking the milestone with a one-day event, the Society wanted to give something lasting to the town: a living legacy that residents and visitors can enjoy for years to come.

To make it happen, the Society successfully applied for a grant from the Verwood Solar Farm Fund, which supports projects, initiatives and good causes benefiting Verwood and its community. With funding secured, VDHS was able to select suitable plant varieties and source quality bulbs and plug plants to give the project the strongest possible start.

Partnership with Dorset Council has been central to the project’s success. With the Council responsible for roadside verges, collaboration has helped identify suitable locations and coordinate the planting to give the flowers the best chance to thrive.

Russell Goff, Greenspace manager for Dorset Council, said: “This project is a great example of what can be achieved when local communities, volunteers and organisations work together to improve their local environment. Dorset Council is proud to have supported the initiative and hopes it will inspire other communities to explore similar opportunities in their own areas.”

So positive has the response been that Dorset Council hopes to use Verwood’s community planting project as a blueprint for similar schemes across the county — encouraging other communities to take pride in their verges and green spaces, showing how native wildflowers can transform them into valuable havens for wildlife.

For the VDHS, the initiative is also a chance to share its passion for gardening beyond meetings and shows, raising awareness of native plants, biodiversity and the importance of creating pollinator-friendly spaces.

The Society would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to every volunteer who gave their time and energy, to JPMorganChase for extending the offer of volunteers, to Dorset Council and Verwood Town Council for their support and collaboration, and to Verwood Solar Farm for providing the grant funding that helped bring this ambitious project to life.

The planting is complete, but the rewards are only just beginning. Over the coming seasons, snowdrops, bluebells, cowslips, daffodils and a host of native wildflowers will begin to appear across Verwood. As the planting matures and spreads, it will create an increasingly colourful landscape for residents, visitors and wildlife to enjoy.

And there may even be a few extra surprises this spring. VDHS Chairman Ollie Greensmith said: “There are also a couple of surprises in store for Verwood on two of our roundabouts in the springtime.”

To find out more, or to join the VDHS, visit verwoodhorticulturalsociety.co.uk.