ELDERLY Coventry residents have been left devastated after thieves stole flower pots and hanging baskets – just days before a horticulture competition.
Green-fingered pensioners at Willowbrook Retirement Village, near Canley, had been busy growing the flowers ready for a competition to be judged by TV gardening expert Howard Drury.
But just days before the judges arrived, thieves struck.
In the early hours of June 22, the crooks stole two beautiful handing baskets and their fixtures, only to return the following night to steal two large flower pots from the main entrance.
Sharon Berry, activity coordinator at Willowbrook Retirement Village, run by the Extra Care charitable trust, said the residents had been left ‘incredibly upset’ by the thefts.
She explained: “They had been really busy growing these beautiful flowers from seed and were really proud of how they had turned out.
“The gardens were being prepared to be judged in an internal competition, but of course when Howard Drury turned up it didn’t look very good.
“And because the thieves took the fixtures off the walls too, we were not able to hang anything else up.”
The retirement village is now calling on Coventry residents, businesses and schools to help brighten the elderly residents’ moods by donating some flowers.
“As a charity, we’re hoping the local community can club together and help us by donating any flowers we can,” Sharon added.
“Hereward College have already been very generous and made some handing baskets for us to put up.
“Hopefully that way we can bring a smile to the residents who have been upset by these thefts.”
Anyone able to donate flowers to Willowbrook is urged to email [email protected] and liaise with Sharon Berry.
Police officers investigating the thefts have not arrested anyone and enquiries are still ongoing.
