The Human Shrub strikes again... with his wife the Human Shrubette | Mail OnlineThe Human Shrub strikes again... with his wife the Human Shrubette
By Mail On Sunday Reporter
Last updated at 10:03 PM on 01st August 2009His costume of straggly weeds is a far cry from the sleek outfits sported by traditional superheroes, yet his mission to transform neglected public gardens is just as admirable.
But now it seems that, like most crusaders, the green-fingered campaigner known only as the Human Shrub does not work alone.
Yesterday the guerrilla gardener turned up at a shabby communal garden with a trusty sidekick – his wife, Mrs Shrub.
Leaf police: The human shrub with his wife
She arrived decked out in the trademark foliage suit, teamed with a bright pink apron and a tray of cherry bakewell tarts.
The pair had organised a party of volunteer gardeners to descend on the scruffy patch of land in Hubert Road in Colchester, Essex. The team – rounded up through social networking site Facebook – spent the morning sprucing up the patch, weeding and planting donated shrubs and flowers.
Digging in: The couple get down to work
Little is known about the Human Shrub aside from his age, 39, and his burning passion for all things green.
Rumoured to be a Conservative activist intent on making the local council reconsider budget cuts for public gardens, his first act of rebellion was to parade along the local high street during a council meeting
in protest against plans to cut back rose bushes completely to save the cost of maintaining them.
Crusader: The Human Shrub's mission is to transform neglected public gardens
He later shamed the Labour and Lib Dem-run council by replanting ugly weed-strewn plant pots in the town with bright flowers, leaving the message: ‘To Colchester, with love, the Human Shrub.’
Myra Kimsey, 80, who lives near the Hubert Road site, said: ‘I think what he’s doing is fantastic. If only more people followed suit.’