THERE is about to be less colour in the community, and it is all because of the weather.

People in Comet country have been enjoying the long dry spell this spring and into early summer.

But gardeners will understand that the fine conditions have adversely affected North Herts District Council’s displays of seasonal bedding.

The hot weather has caused the spring displays of flowers that residents are used to enjoying on roundabouts, in parks and gardens, cemeteries and in other open spaces to finish some four to five weeks before they usually do.

This means that the borders will need to be stripped in preparation for the summer display earlier than normal. The outcome is that the borders will remain empty for up to a couple of weeks.

Cllr Peter Burt, the council’s portfolio holder for waste, recycling and environment, said: “We would like to reassure residents that the period where flower borders will be empty is only temporary and is caused by the unseasonable weather conditions, not because of planned cuts to budgets.

“The council has agreed to reduce its seasonal bedding budget this year, but this is primarily to change the types of plants on display, and residents can be reassured that there will still be year-round interest in our displays.

“Residents will only need to wait a few weeks before our teams will be out planting some 40,000 plants across the district, creating summer displays of flowers that will last through to September.”