WEM could soon be given a splash of colour in the form of a bloom initiative.

Various towns surrounding Wem have bloom initiative, which seek to improve the visual appearance and quality of life for residents and visitors through the planting and maintaining of floral displays.

A notable example is Oswestry's 'In Bloom' committee, which is council backed both financially and with administration matters.

Other towns, including Ellesmere, Market Drayton and Ludlow have similar schemes, with varying levels of local council support.

Until recently Wem blossomed into life with the yearly Sweet Pea Festival, but the event's cancellation has planted the seeds for a new floral organisation to grow.

At Wem's full council meeting, held virtually on Thursday, October 29, clerk of the council Penny O'Hagan shared the budding initiative's ideas with councillors, which were discussed at a meeting earlier in October.

"The purpose of the meeting was to hold a general discussion over whether there was any interest in organising a Wem Bloom initiative for 2021," said Penny.

"It was explained that there had previously been a Wem Town Gardens Competition as part of Wem Bloom but that this had ceased in 2005 although some of the trophies were still held by the Town Council.

"Several suggestions were put forward and all present felt that if Wem Bloom were to be relaunched it needed to focus away from just handing out awards and more towards working with the community to educate and inspire.

"A suggestion was made to focus on a different theme annually e.g. gardening for wildlife, improving biodiversity and develop events based around the annual theme."

At the full council meeting various recommendations were put forward from the bloom initiative, including the council providing a degree of administrative support and that a councillor be co-opted into the group.