Fighting spirit amid the flowers

Tracy Spiers visits Warwick, a beautiful town that is open for business and ready to welcome visitors

- Tracy Spiers

Years ago, archers used longbows and crossbows to take out the defenders of a castle. Their biggest threat was the Trebauchet, which launched rocks, fireballs, dead and rotting animals into the castle to rain down terror on those inside. Today, Warwick Castle is home to its own trebuchet, the most powerful weapon of medieval times and hosts the best bird of prey show we have seen in the UK, Falconer’s Quest.

But in terms of weaponry and defence needed in 2020 when the world faces an unseen enemy, Warwick’s strategy is very different to its historic one.

As I visit this beautiful town, I realise that its fighting spirit is very much in operation but portrayed through care, collaboration and celebration. Oh, and colour. Visit Warwick and you’ll see what I mean. Its myriad of streets is full of vivid eye-catching bloom. By that I mean hanging baskets and floral displays which are providing some much-needed cheer. Warwick is in bloom and to celebrate those who have gone the extra mile to brighten up their street, the Town Crier Michael Reddy shouts his ‘oyez oyez oyez’ whilst Mayor of Warwick, Councillor Terry Morris presents the prizes. Seeing these two notable figures dressed in their traditional regalia, brings additional pizzazz. Albert Street won the day not only for their collective hanging baskets, but their genuine community spirit and the fact residents had got to know each other better during lockdown.

“We didn’t want to cancel our annual Warwick in Bloom competition, but we knew we would have to alter the way we did it, so we did it digitally and asked people to take photos of their gardens and tell their stories,” explains Councillor Richard Eddy, Chair of Community and Culture for Warwick Town Council who also heads up the Warwick in Bloom Team.