VISITORS to the Celebration of Flowers at Alton Maltings Centre were delighted by beautiful and fragrant floral displays.

There were arrangements created by members of the Harvest Church and other churches and groups in Alton and the surrounding area. The centrepiece was a stunning garden created on the stage at the front of the main room. This bark-floor, and wrought-iron design with a table with “tea for two” and many trees, flowers, shrubs and bushes and, the organisers felt, was worthy of a Chelsea Flower Show spot.

Sainsbury’s in Alton was delighted to be able to assist with the event by providing flowers for use by the Harvest Church flower arranging team. The store regularly donates flowers to local care homes and churches as part of its minimal waste programme.

The event was held to raise funds for young Ropley girl Isabelle Mycroft, who’s life could be changed by SDR (selective dorsal rhizotomy) – an operation that improves spasticity (muscle stiffness) suffered by those with cerebral palsy. surgery and which could help her to walk unaided. SDR surgery is not usually available in the UK so Isabelle has to go to America for it. The family has to raise £50,000 to finance the treatment. Isabelle and her twin, Joshua, were born at 27 weeks and spent three months in a neonatal intensive care unit. Her brother suffered extensive brain damage but has done well, however at 15 months, Isabelle was diagnosed with spastic displegia, a form of cerebral palsy affecting balance and the legs. The operation will allow her to walk without aids and to do things that her friends do.

The event was masterminded by Harvest Church members Joan Witchard and Sue Saunders, both of whom worked on the show’s centrepiece.