Guildford Gets Greener: Town Centre Planters Set for a Fresh New Look

Guildford Gets Greener: Town Centre Planters Set for a Fresh New Look

Guildford town centre is about to receive a welcome burst of colour and care, thanks to a new community‑led initiative to rejuvenate a series of neglected planters and troughs across the town.

On 26 March, more than twenty volunteers armed with trowels, forks, and plenty of enthusiasm gathered to clear the first set of planters outside Waitrose. The effort marks the launch of Greener Guildford, a collaborative project created by Guildford in Bloom, Experience Guildford, and Zero Carbon Guildford to revitalise unloved planted areas and encourage community stewardship.

The volunteers cleared weeds, removed litter, and prepared the soil for new planting. The same group will return to replant the troughs and take on ongoing maintenance and watering, ensuring the spaces continue to thrive.

Timed to coincide with the Great British Spring Clean Week, Experience Guildford also coordinated a team of volunteer litter pickers who joined the gardeners before heading out to spruce up other parts of the town. The Greener Guildford brand will serve as an umbrella for future projects aimed at improving and enriching planted areas throughout the town centre and surrounding neighbourhoods. Upcoming targets include planters near the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Milkhouse Gate, the library, and the riverside.

Sallie Barker, Chair of Guildford in Bloom, said:

Some of the planters we want to target have been looking unloved for quite some time, so Guildford in Bloom is proud to lead the charge in caring for them and bringing back some colour into our lovely town.

With support from Guildford Borough Council, the first phase will see new planting introduced around the Waitrose area. However, additional funding will be needed to refresh other sites, opening the door for local businesses and individuals to sponsor planters and support the purchase of new plants and trees.

Amanda Masters, CEO of Experience Guildford, added:

This is such a lovely community project, and we urge more volunteers to come forward. We’d especially love to hear from businesses interested in sponsoring a planter or two to help us bring these areas back to life.

The initiative aims not only to brighten forgotten corners of the town but also to bring people together, strengthening the sense of pride residents and businesses share for the place they call home.

Steph Bleach, Outreach Coordinator for Zero Carbon Guildford, commented:

This project is a great example of how community action can transform shared spaces. It aligns well with our values of sustainability, collaboration, and empowering local people to make a positive environmental impact. Local residents will be able to appreciate vibrant planters that not only add to the aesthetic of Guildford but also feature specific plants that also help improve air quality and biodiversity in our urban areas.

For more information or to get involved with Greener Guildford, please contact: [email protected]