Towering teasel is talk of the town

A FROME man’s teasel is now the tallest of its kind in the world after it was measured to be almost ten foot in height, smashing the previous record. 

Simon Hicks is hoping his teasel will make it into the Guinness Book of World Records after reaching the towering height – five feet taller than the average teasel.   

Simon said, “I couldn’t be happier to say I have the tallest teasel in the world and to have beaten the previous record comfortably. I’m just waiting confirmation from Guinness.  

“The reason we started this garden in the first place was to help biodiversity through rewilding. I was in touch with the Wild Neighbours of Frome and Somerset’s Wildlife Trust who were very keen for people to start rewilding their gardens to help the area to grow naturally.” 

Karie Hicks, who is also involved in the rewilding projects said, “Our experience since we began this project is that it is so full of surprises, that we never quite know what Nature is going to come up with next!” 

Teasels are a common wildflower species in the UK which normally grow up to five feet – Simon’s is almost twice the height of the average teasel and several inches taller than the current record holder. 

Simon is still very active in his retirement thanks to his green fingers, often helping the Wildlife Trust. 

Picture left to right:   Ben Burr, Karie Hicks, Simon Hicks and Thomas Burr.