Shrewsbury beauty spots take on greater value as lockdown goes on
While some businesses have closed and others operate only from home, some workers have been out every day like normal throughout the pandemic, and for one Shrewsbury group in particular their efforts have taken on even more significance.
As the country has careered through successive lockdowns since March last year the appreciation of and access to the outdoors has become more and more important.
Shrewsbury is a town known for its meticulously maintained parks, floral features and green spaces, and the team in charge of them said they had become aware of their increasing importance, with people looking to them as a key source of relaxation and respite from the monotony of lockdown.
Mark Bowen. 57, is Shrewsbury Town Council's team leader for floral features, including the town's spectacular Dingle, located in the heart of The Quarry, as well as others across the town.
The attention to detail is key for the entire team, with the pristine islands on the way into town giving visitors a taste of what is to come.
Shrewsbury Castle is another of the team's sites, which is home to one of two special NHS displays – with another now added to the Dingle, created as a thank you for the efforts of health workers throughout the pandemic.
High standards
Mr Bowen, who has been doing the job for 38 years – since he left school – said all of the team were delighted if their work helped to lift the mood for people during what has been a depressing 10 months.
He said: "I think obviously Shrewsbury is well known for its floral displays and we always do our best to keep the quality and standard as high as possible, but this time, with lockdown, it has made us realise the value of green space and getting out to do exercise, just how important that is for people's mental health.
"We are only doing our jobs, which were important before, for keeping the place tidy, winning competitions, but now we know it has got the extra value for people's mental health and wellbeing."
He added: "For the people that are on their own, to be able to come out into a nice clean area, to say hello to someone, that could be really important, because for all you know they might be stuck indoors 24/7 apart from that exercise."
Mr Bowen said that most of the team had worked throughout the pandemic, with some carrying out medical runs to help during the initial lockdown last March.
He praised the efforts of his colleagues in helping to provide a bit of light in the gloom.
He said: "The guys do a brilliant job. As a team throughout the town they are all cogs in the big wheel that gives it that wow factor."
