‘Cannabis’ found growing in West Parley community planter

The plants were found growing in a roadside community planter in New Road, Ferndown, near St Marks Church last week shortly before West Parley Parish Council published images praising the floral display for adding “splashes of colour” to the area.

However, weeds of an altogether different kind were spotted by local gardener Tray Veronica who spotted the “interesting plants” while on the school run.

Tray told the Echo: “I was driving to drop my daughter off and as I drove down New Road I saw the planter, being a gardener I always notice things like that. But as I looked over I thought ‘oh my god, is that what I think it is?’

Suspected cannabis plants found growing in council planter off New Road, Ferndown

“When I drove past again I stopped to have a closer look and yes, it’s definitely cannabis. I was laughing all the way home.

“But at first there were six plants in there, now there’s only two. The first ones were so big, they were towering above the bedding plants. They absolutely thrived on that planter.”

Tray first identified the plant on Sunday, July 17. Two days later, West Parley Parish Council released pictures on Facebook of several newly planted floral displays around the village, one of which showed the suspected cannabis plants. One person commented: “smokin’.”

Following enquiries and a council meeting on Wednesday, a spokesperson for West Parley Parish Council said: “On 20th July, the parish council was alerted to a report concerning one of the village’s floral displays, which suggested it may have been tampered with and amongst the flowers was a plant not part of this year’s schedule.

Suspected cannabis plants seen growing in council planter off New Road, Ferndown

“On the advice of the police, the plant was located, removed and has been secured by the parish council and arrangements are being made to pass it on to Dorset Police for identification and destruction.

“An inspection has taken place of all the parish’s other planters, and this has not raised any further concerns.”

According to UK law, it is unlawful to cultivate any part of a cannabis plant. Cultivation is the tending of plants, for example watering, feeding, nurturing them.

Tray concluded: “I hope the council can see the funny side. It is worth adding that all the planters around the village do look beautiful, they’ve done a great job.”