A TOTAL of 260 hanging baskets, 12 boxes and dozens of keen young gardeners. That’s what an entry into the Test Valley in Bloom competition takes.

And with Valley Park now entering for the 15th year, there are high hopes for the school children, councillors, gardeners and local celebrities who have made it happen.

Children from St Francis and Knightwood schools have been working with Councillor Alan Dowden and Roger Savage of Choice Plants to get hanging baskets and displays along Knightwood Road looking their best.

And they were joined by Saints legend Lawrie McMenemy, who said: “I love to walk through gardens and admire the flowers. But this isn’t just about the flowers, it’s about teaching the youngsters at this age and beyond.”

Cllr Dowden added: “This area used to have quite a lot of anti-social behaviour, but we’ve done a lot of work with the young people and they are involved in planting flowers and bulbs in the area.”