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Bury in Bloom’s crowning glory is unveiled as Coronation display – in Crown Street




An appropriately-named Bury St Edmunds street is playing a major role in the town’s annual In Bloom entry, while also marking the Coronation.

A giant Coronation crown – the centrpiece of the Bury in Bloom entry into this year’s Anglia in Bloom competition – was unveiled by garden writer and horticulturist Barbara Segall in Crown Street on Wednesday.

The 2.7 metre-tall gold crown has been located on the corner of Crown Street and Honey Hill, following months of planning and preparation.

Unveiling of the Bury in Bloom gold Coronation Crown in Crown StreetPICTURED: People involved with the crown Picture: Mecha Morton
Unveiling of the Bury in Bloom gold Coronation Crown in Crown StreetPICTURED: People involved with the crown Picture: Mecha Morton

The semi-circular rolled-steel gold-coloured crown weighs more than 500kg and holds 14 baskets, to represent the jewels in the crown.

Meanwhile, the 20sqm flower bed the crown stands on is planted with red and white petunias, to represent a trimmed red cushion.

The crown was the idea of retiring Bury in Bloom co-ordinater David Irvine who, after stepping down in March, worked with new co-ordinator Chris Wiley to see the project to completion.

Unveiling of the Bury in Bloom gold Coronation Crown in Crown StreetPicture: Mecha Morton
Unveiling of the Bury in Bloom gold Coronation Crown in Crown StreetPicture: Mecha Morton

David said: “We had been looking at ideas following the Queen’s death and started looking for a location and thinking about a design before the end of last year.

“By the time the Coronation date was announced we were already discussing designs with Viking Forge, but we had a very tight schedule.

“While the fabrication of the crown was going to plan, our problem was always going to be getting the flowers ready. The very cold spring meant that even under the glass the flowers didn’t develop quickly enough. As every gardener knows, putting ‘soft’ spring flowers outside in early May, especially from greenhouse conditions, is a recipe for disaster. We had no choice but to delay the unveiling until after the last frost date.”

The crown project was supported by Bury Town Council, The Bury Society, West Suffolk Council, Woolpit Nurseries and last-minute intervention by Morrish Structural Engineers, which enabled Suffolk Highways to issue a licence for the crown.

Ribbon cutting by horticulturist, garden writer and blogger Barbara SegallPicture by Mecha Morton
Ribbon cutting by horticulturist, garden writer and blogger Barbara SegallPicture by Mecha Morton

“Of course, we are massively indebted for the fabrication work put in by Duncan Dyre, of Viking Forge, who has been able to take a mere figment of my imagination and turn it into a three-dimensional gold steel crown able to carry 14 baskets, each weighing 19kg,” said David.

“Bury Rugby Club offered to move the heavy crown on to its footings and we want to thank the Ladies Team for their help.”

The crown will be dismantled in late September.