Goblins and Fairies

There's goblins and fairies in Dalrymple.There really really is!

  A few years ago my husband and I were walking the dog fairly late on. The night was calm and clear with a good light to see by. We turned a corner and came across a bizarre sight. An elderly couple were busy filling a plastic carrier bag with soil and the few  plants remaining in the flower display box situated near the top end of the village. On seeing us approach they temporarily stopped their nocturnal activity but then throwing caution to the wind merrily carried on regardless, even as we passed by. They did at least have the good grace to look a little bit embarrassed - but obviously not enough. Most of the boxes that year were similarly raided or vandalised and since then have remained empty of any flower display.

Flower display with the Dalrymple War Memorial in the background

This year during May and early June, a number of community spirited 'flower fairy' volunteers spent some backbreaking hours emptying the old water clogged soil from the flower boxes which had been left abandoned over the last few years. They refilled with fresh compost before planting up with what should become, given half a chance, a really eye catching and beautiful display over the summer months. A big thank you should go to these kind individuals for all the time and effort spent in making the displays.

Last Saturday night (12th June to be completely precise) my husband and I took our usual late walk about 11pm. Eerily it was another calm and moonlit night. Passing the flower box in front of the war memorial I once again spotted the tell tale sign of fresh compost lying on the pavement. On closer inspection it was clear that the naughty 'flower goblins' had removed a plant from the display box. Come Monday as I passed again it was clear that the flower display had suffered some more attention in that one plant had been uprooted but left lying on its side. I didn't have any tools available but using my hands I dug into the compost and re positioned the plant the best I could.

I'm really hoping after all the hard work put in that these displays are left to flourish for everyone,  villagers and visitors alike, to enjoy and that this is a one off. Fingers crossed.