SIR,

I write in response to your reader's letter published on

August 27th regarding concerns expressed about

Monmouth's flowers.

Last year the Town Council held a planting

competition. This was judged on the basis of

sustainability, year round interest, identity / theme,

impact, appropriateness for the area, and minimal

maintenance. The winning entry was chosen by a

panel of judges, some representing the committee of

Usk in Bloom and an RHS Chelsea Flower show gold

medal winner.

The design scored well on all counts but the judges

were particularly impressed by the choice of Henry V

as the theme using plants such as the phormium to

represent the warrior king, iris for the swordsmen

protecting the king and also because the flower is the

symbol of France, purple sage for the wisdom of

kings, daffodils for courage, and the single red rose as

the symbol of the House of Lancaster.

It is a unique and highly innovative scheme but, due to

financial constraints and seasonal availability of

plants, it is not yet complete.

However, it is anticipated that over the coming

months further progress can be made and the Henry V

theme will continue.

An important aspect of the scheme is that it is

environmentally responsible – minimal maintenance

and minimal watering (hence no annuals). It is also

designed to change through the seasons – first

snowdrops, then daffodils, then summer flowering,

and finally autumn colour and winter hips and berries.

However, it will take some time to mature but should

be splendid in a year or two. Please be patient! – and

please also look at the sites being developed at the

Dixton Roundabout, Portal Road, Rockfield Road,

Hereford Road and Wyesham Road.

So far as colour in Monnow Street is concerned, we are

limited by the narrow pavements and can only make a

plea to the shopkeepers to follow the example of

those in Church Street and put up hanging baskets for

the summer months.

Monmouth Town Council

More views on war

SIR,

With reference to the Land Army Girls and them

receiving medals with no names on.

My husband was in every major campaign of the war

and was in France the day war broke out.

He was in Crete with the Eighth Army and a Desert Rat

in Italy. He had seven medals for being in a proper

war and his name was not on one of them!

Also, I worked in an aircraft factory, which was

continually bombed. At least the Land Army Girls did

not have that to put up with.

Wartime memories

(Monmouth)