A unique approach to history has been taken by the Kenilworth in Bloom committee – they are saying it with flowers.

Dozens of oak barrels have been laid along the main streets of the town centre - each full of flowers, and each dedicated to a name in Kenilworth’s history.

The trail was launched this week with Sir William Lawrence, from the Heart of England Tourist Board, plus representatives from local tourist and promotion bodies and ex-Sky Blues manager John Sillett, who lives at Balsall Common.

Cllr Dave Shilton, who relaunched the defunct Kenilworth in Bloom in his mayoral year, said:

“The barrels are named after people from Kenilworth’s history including Oliver Cromwell, Simon De Montfort, Sir Walter Scott, Queen Elizabeth l and ll, and Charles Dickens - who have all visited Kenilworth over the years.

“The final barrel is named after myself as the mayor who took Kenilworth into the new millennium.”

Other more recent names on a barrel include Jack Cox who was the first mayor of Kenilworth Town Council - it was set up following the abolition of Kenilworth Urban District Council and the transfer of most services to the then-new Warwick District Council in 1974.

Also on a barrel is the name of Helen Martin, who gave the historic Parliament Piece for the use of local people, and Dr Smalley who served as a councillor and on the carnival committee

Cllr Shilton said:

“It should bring history to life and tell people and visitors about this town, which I think is more historic than Stratford.

“It tries to bring it all together. We have gone one step further than just being a bloom committee to promote and town and history - and we are saying it with flowers.

“We have worked very hard this year and raised three times the amount previously collected for the good of our town.

“I must thank the sponsors and the people who have supported us. They have done a marvellous job in helping us get Kenilworth in Bloom running again.

“We are going to give Stratford a good run for the money and I think we can win. All of the schools have joined in and everyone is making a good effort to put this very important town on the map.

“We have a lot to offer and would like people to come and see for themselves – we have the castle, the Abbey Fields, Parliament Piece and now our history trail in the town centre.”

The tour of 48 barrels starts in Station Road and leads down Warwick Road, to the St John’s Island, and back up the other side of the road to the library.

There is a map of the trail, giving the details of the names and locations, plus a quiz for youngsters. It is available from the library and the Kenilworth Connection.

It is one of the innovations from the new committee to boost the Kenilworth entry in the Heart of England section for Britain in Bloom.

The judges will be in town on July 26 to judge Kenilworth’s entry in the contest. It is up against Warwick, Stratford and Evesham in the medium-town sized contest in the regional heat.

Stratford has won the contest for as many years as anyone can remember, and Kenilworth has tended to come second or third, just ahead of Warwick.