Human Shrub ambushes council into turning over new leaf

A horticultural super-hero is on a mission to get a town centre blooming again, by rooting out evil weeds and replacing them with flowers. The Human Shrub has been doing his bit for the people of Colchester by replanting tubs which had become overgrown.

And just like Batman, Superman and Spiderman, he has a secret identity, unique costume and an arch enemy to do battle with.



The Shrub, whose real name has not been revealed, first stepped in to deal with the town's gardening grief after the local council announced plans to get rid of rose beds to save money.

He held a protest outside the town hall earlier this year which resulted in a U-turn by his bitter rival, the local authority. But then he spotted overgrown planter tubs around Colchester and realised there was more work for him to do in bringing back blooms to the town.



Under the cover of his shrub costume, he removed weeds and replaced them with colourful flowers.

The hero described his work as "a gift to Colchester" and left a sign in the tub saying: "Dear Colchester, with love, Human Shrub."