Human shrub strikes again! The hero rooting out evil (or at least weeds in protest at council cuts)



He has a secret identity, an eye-catching costume and a mission to uproot evil.

But the Human Shrub, as he likes to be called, is not your garden-variety super hero.

His powers don’t include being faster than a speeding bullet or leaping tall buildings in a single bound.

Instead, he is rather good at weeding. And he is determined to make Colchester look its best again in a battle with his sworn enemy – the cost-cutting council.

Green superhero: The Human Shrub has taken to the streets of Colchester, Essex, to plant flowers after the local council cut its horticultural spending

The herbaceous hero sprang into action earlier this year when he planted himself outside the town hall to protest at a council plan to turf over dozens of rose beds to save money on tending them.

That resulted in a U-turn, but last week he was prickling with indignation again when he spotted the state of the historic Essex town’s 200 planter tubs.



They are meant to be overflowing with summer blooms but instead are overgrown with weeds.

So the Shrub grabbed his trusty trowel and got to work, removing the weeds and replacing them with flowers.

‘Shrub is back and I am planning more work,’ he declared yesterday.

‘We must stop Colchester’s politicians spoiling this town and putting future generations of my friends, the bees, at risk.’

The anonymous protester has transformed the town's planter from a weed strewn bed into a colourful display of petals

He declined to reveal exactly where he will wield his trowel of justice next in the town famous for once being the capital of Roman Britain.

And like all self-respecting superheroes, he keeps his true identity a secret. All that is publicly known

about him is what he says on his Facebook page, where he describes himself as 39, ‘apolitical’ and a member of the Michaela Strachan Appreciation Society. (She’s the TV presenter best known for ITV’s The Really Wild Show and the BBC’s Country File.)

Calling card: The Shrub leaves a note to the town in his latest escapade



His interests are ‘sunbathing and people watching’ and his favourite music ‘morning birdsong’.

Gossip mongers have pointed the finger at Darius Laws, a defeated Conservative candidate for Colchester in the recent council elections, who had vowed ‘no shrubs will be damaged’ if he was elected.

Mr Laws, 27, a broadcast producer and hobby gardener, yesterday-insisted that he is not the Human Shrub.

‘I’m a serious politician and would never dress up as a superhero,’ he said.



‘I know who the Human Shrub is. He is not a politician, he is an eco-activist and he doesn’t want to be unmasked.

‘I spoke to him this morning and he is loving it that people are taking note of his work.’

Martin Hunt, a councillor with responsibility for parks and gardens, said: ‘The Human Shrub was quite amusing at first, but I think he’s a bit potty if he thinks he can do all 200 planters.

‘He’s also a bit misguided as we are replanting the planters next month – the proper time.’

He added: ‘I’ve no idea who he is. I could go up to him and tear all his shrubbery off to find out but I might be arrested for assaulting a bush.’



