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Lockdown has provided Wisbech with amazing garden thanks to 'marooned' flower arranger




Wisbech St Peter's Church Gardens is home to a magnificent new display thanks to the talents of an internationally-acclaimed flower arranger who got accidentally stuck here.

Siberian-born Natalya Shylapina has created the unusual display for Wisbech in Bloom while stranded in the town due to the current pandemic.

Alan Wheeldon, who helps co-ordinate Wisbech In Bloom, said Natalya's creation, made using woven wood has created quite a stir among residents who have admired the sculptures, that sit in front of the historic church.

Natalya has worked in all weathers to create her sculpture. (36526233)
Natalya has worked in all weathers to create her sculpture. (36526233)

He explained Natalya, who comes from Tyumen in Siberia, was visiting her boyfriend Andrew Bottley, who she met while he was teaching English in Russia, and had planned to stay for three weeks.

That was before lockdown and since then she has been "marooned" in Wisbech.

Andrew approached Wisbech in Bloom to see if they would like Natalya to create a garden for them and Alan found her the perfect spot alongside St Peter's.

Natalya has worked in all weathers to create her sculpture. (36526236)
Natalya has worked in all weathers to create her sculpture. (36526236)

She has worked through all weathers, including hailstones, to create what Alan describes as an "amazing sculptured garden" and something Wisbech is incredibly lucky to have.

He said: "By chance Wisbech now has this amazing sculpture created by an internationally acclaimed flower arranger and horticultural artist, simply because she flew 3,000 miles from the depths of Siberia to see her boyfriend and got marooned over here because of lockdown."



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