THE Winsford community has rallied together after sunflowers which were planted in Town Park to welcome Ukrainian refugees were vandalised.
Schools were recently invited to the park to show support for the people of Ukraine by planting sunflowers, Ukraine’s national flower.
But just as the plants were beginning to thrive, they were destroyed.
Winsford Town Council appealed for plant donations to help rebuild the sunflower bed and invited Darnhall Primary School pupils to help replant them.
The children came with some plants of their own - donated by a parent – and got to work digging holes, planting the flowers and watering the soil.
Ahead of the re-planting session, councillor Laura Whitehead, who was involved in organising the original Sunflowers for Ukraine event said: “Following the wonderful Sunflowers for Ukraine event, where schoolchildren and members of the community across Winsford came together to plant sunflowers and welcome refugees, we are so upset that the flower bed has been vandalised.
“The majority of the plants were planted by young people with great enthusiasm and pride.
“They were brilliant on the day and a credit to their families, schools and Winsford.
“I believe that it is these young people who have truly represented the spirit of their town, and not the people who ruined their work.”
The town council asked for plant donations to ‘restore the sunflower bed and continue to show solidarity with refugees’.
And the community did not disappoint, with many people coming forward to help the efforts.
Cllr Whitehead said: “The response from the community has been amazing.
“We have had quite a few donations from residents, parents from the school, and councillors as well.
“Together we’ve managed to rebuild the flowerbed.”
Cllr Whitehead also thanked Darnhall Primary School pupils for their hard work.
“It’s been really wonderful,” she added.
“The children have come back determined to replant the flowers and show their support for people in Ukraine.
“They are just so enthusiastic, they’re brilliant.”
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