THEY have brought a stunning splash of colour to Huddersfield.
And the good news is – there is more to come.
Superb displays of crocus plants have burst into life on grass verges and busy roads across the town, as part of a three-year project to bring colour to the gateways of Huddersfield.
More than 50,000 crocus bulbs have been planted so far and they will be followed by a similar number of daffodils.
The crocuses are expected to flower for about three weeks, and the daffodils will be in bloom for at least a further month.
Paul Marshall, of Kirklees Nurseries, said: “It is a part of an ongoing project to create colourful approaches to Huddersfield and to other areas of Kirklees.
“Some were planted in 2007, more were put out last Autumn and thousands more will go out in the autumn this year.
“In total, we expect to have hundreds of thousands of bulbs in the area.
“Many have been planted in new areas this time, including Leeds Road and Newsome.”
The bulbs are imported from Holland and arrive at the nurseries in Bradley where they are sorted.
The planting is carried out by a machine. It lifts the turf on the roadside verges, plants the bulbs and then replaces the turf, leaving no trace of the work.
Mr Marshall said: “It is a wonderful system and enables the bulbs to be planted out in all sorts of shapes and patterns.”
Most of the plants that have been used are late spring-flowering Dutch hybrids.
These large flowering crocuses are the most commonly grown. They can often be seen in bedding schemes and growing naturalised throughout the gardens of England during March and April.
They come in many colours, including lavender purple, pale white, pure white, white with deep and pale lilac stripes, pale blue flowers and yellow.
Huddersfield businessman David Armitage, of Sellers Engineers, welcomed the new look on the town’s roads.
He said: “I drive to work every day along Bradford Road and they make a wonderful sight.
“There seem to be thousands of them and they have certainly brightened up the journey.”
