GARDENING enthusiasts across Redbridge spent a weekend of ‘Big Planting’ after Redbridge Council gave thousands of spring flowering bulbs to get the borough blooming.

More than 50,000 spring-flowering bulbs were delivered to the community earlier this year under the council’s ‘Big Bulb Giveaway’, culminating in the borough’s annual ‘Big Planting Weekend’.

Individuals who successfully applied for the free bulbs took to green spaces and community gardens around the borough to plant them for the Big Planting Weekend, held on October 15-17.

The initiative, run under the council’s Our Streets Strategy, brought out budding gardeners young and old.

The pay-off for their collective planting efforts will come in spring when the bulbs flower and help spruce up neighbourhoods.

St Paul’s Church in Goodmayes was among the groups who took part.

The Vicar of St Paul’s Church, Rev’d Janet Buchan, said:

“It’s our first year taking part.

We have a fairly uninspiring bit of space around the church and I thought this initiative is a wonderful way to brighten it up for the community, and bring some cheer.

“It’s good for people to see things growing and flourishing, and will hopefully inspire younger children to also take an interest in growing things as they walk by and see it.”

Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, said: “Not only is gardening brilliant for mental wellbeing, but the bulbs will also brighten up our local area in the spring and boost the borough’s biodiversity.”