It's Paul's lock ( I regard it as his "private property" - well the flower beds are), so he should be contacted - somehow- first.

As I understand it the bedding plants are supplied by the sponsoring horticultural outfit, and the lockies plant them. Some keepers (i.e. Paul) have their own additions as well - look at his bankside wall where there is a splendid collection of low maintenance shrubs.

Not wanting to drift this thread too far, but:-

If the Resident keeper is to be dispensed with who will or would want to, keep the gardens going?

I have heard that flower bed are now discouraged / forbidden and the basis that a punter could slip on the daffodils at 2:00 a.m (while using the lock) and sue.

'Elf and...

Similarly they are not supposed to tend such gardens as remain in their own time as the EA would not be covered for third party insurance purposes.

Not sure how true the above statements are - but it's so daft, that they are likely to be true!

So when you see those lovely beds all grassed over you'll know why. All locks will look like Bell Weir always has.