Garden sculptures fail to bloom

A set of 20ft (6m) high "vertical garden" sculptures outside a Derby shopping centre have been left brown and shrivelled by a mystery problem.

The five metal towers filled with compost were installed outside the new Westfield centre in February and should now have sprouted lush vegetation.

But instead almost all the plants have died leaving bare steel mesh.

Sculptor John Packer said he was heartbroken at the sight and was investigating what had gone wrong.

Mr Packer said he was investigating the automated watering system.

Attempts to reseed the sculptures have been hampered by the metal construction and Mr Packer has had to throw a seed and fertiliser mix through the grille.

He said: "It was extremely heartbreaking to come here and see what should have been luscious green vertical gardens being rather brown and sullen.

"Hopefully with the reseeding, in about a month or so the whole set will look a lot greener."

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