Francis Oeser – ‘Pruning flowers budget is the last thing we should do’

Published: 22 October, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

A FORMER judge of the prestigious Britain in Bloom floral competition has joined the fight to save Islington’s hanging baskets.

Highgate novelist and publisher Francis Oeser, 74, argued that keeping the borough’s award winning floral scheme would be “cocking a snook” to Coalition Government cuts.

Mr Oeser said: “Rather than giving in to the Government, keeping the hanging baskets would be a sign of rebellion. Flowers really cheer everyone up ­– and the people of Islington are going to need a lot of cheering up over the next few years.” 

Mr Oeser, whose wife runs the Dartmouth Park Pottery shop at ­Archway, added that he was ­“dismayed” that the council is ­planning to axe hanging baskets next year to save less than £50,000.

As a Britain in Bloom judge for 15 years, Mr Oeser, a retired architect and planner, was responsible for marking floral arrangements throughout Greater London.

He was also one of a group responsible for establishing the popular Parkland Walk on former railway land which links Finsbury Park, Highgate and Crouch End.

“The hanging baskets are very good in Islington,” he added. “They particularly brighten up Archway.

“It’s not just that they are pretty. Flowers have a profound psychological effect on people. They cheer you up when times are hard.”

Mr Oeser also appealed to businesses to do their bit for the floral scene by providing their own hanging baskets. 

“Greening the city brings a feeling of sanity and civilisation to some of the most down at heel areas,” he said.

“The test of a culture is the money it spends on things like flowers, ­poetry and street theatre. A country that hasn’t got time for any of these things is not worth living in.”