Liphook is looking blooming lovely as plans advance to celebrate the King’s coronation.

With the help of £2,500 grant funding from the village’s three East Hampshire district councillors, Angela Glass, Bill Mouland and Nick Sear, a flagship flowerbed has sprung into colour almost overnight.

The red, white and blue hyacinths are part of Liphook’s celebration of the coronation. New turf has been laid and 4,000 Royal Purple crocus bulbs have also been planted to make a seasonal display.

Paul Johnson of Liphook in Bloom, which organised the makeover, said: “The grassed area around the Millennium Bed was devastated by the contractor which has been installing high-speed fibre optic cabling throughout the village. Trenches had been dug, some of which were backfilled with subsoil and seeded, some not.

“We were determined to turn this into an opportunity to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and had the whole area returfed to give instant impact. Beneath the turf we have planted 4,000 crocus bulbs which should continue to give us a display as they naturalise themselves over the years to come.”

The sight and scent of the flowers is already attracting attention from passers-by.

Cllr Mouland, pictured above with Cllr Glass, said: “We are always delighted to help Liphook in Bloom whose volunteers do so much for our community. When Paul Johnson got in touch, we pooled what remains of our resources to help out.”

Each councillor has a £4,500 ‘pot’ to help community organisations. Other recipients this year have included Bramshott and Liphook Preservation Society, Liphook Bowling Club, Liphook United Football Club, Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council, Bramshott Open Gardens, The River Wey Trust, PeCAN (Action Network), Bramshott and Liphook Arts and Crafts Society, Liphook Community Magazine, Liphook Infant and Junior Schools and Liss Archaeology Group.

Liphook in Bloom litter pick

It was a fine but chilly start to the litter pick on April 2 organised by Liphook in Bloom in conjunction with Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council and the Norse Group, on behalf of East Hampshire District Council, which provided picker sticks, hi-vis jackets and rubbish bags. 

Families and other local residents turned up to help Liphook in Bloom, proving to be one of the best turnouts ever.

Picking up rubbish along the Shipwright’s Way was a special ‘Sunday treat’ for the family of one of the district councillors. 

Special credit has to go to the staff of The Deer’s Hut pub who cleared all the Liphook West area.

Among the usual sweet wrappers, empty cans, bottles and fast-food debris, the most surprising find was a five-gallon drum of old engine oil. Other ‘finds‘ included a tyre, hub caps and a set of car keys.