Shrewsbury Quarry tribute is planned for Percy Thrower
A cafe and tribute to TV gardener Percy Thrower could be opened in the grounds of Shrewsbury Quarry, where he lived and spent decades as head gardener.
A yard behind Quarry Lodge, near the main entrance to the site, could be transformed under proposals being discussed by Shrewsbury Town Council.
The yard, which dates from the 1940s, is currently used by gardening staff.
Town clerk Helen Ball said: "The operational yard used to be the back of Quarry Lodge in the 1940s.
"It hasn't changed since Percy Thrower lived in the building and at the moment there are welfare facilities and polytunnels.
"We have 30,000 plants there that need looking after in between planting and it's a question of how best we can use this space for the future.
"The Quarry is the jewel in Shrewsbury's crown and last year we won Britain in Bloom awards. We have this absolutely stunning park and this is about seeing what we can do to keep with the times.
"There is definitely a potential for public use and we would like to develop something that will last.
"This could be a cafe and then a separate tribute area set up for Percy."
A team of gardeners is currently preparing the Quarry for next month's Shrewsbury Flower Show.
For many years Mr Thrower was Shrewsbury Flower Show's chief horticultural advisor and lived in Quarry Lodge from January 1946 until April 1974 while parks superintendent for what was then Shrewsbury Borough Council.
