Council-owned planters around Aberystwyth have been removed, after a local environmental organisation started “guerilla” planting in them when they were left unused during the pandemic.

Volunteers from Tyfu Aber Grow, an Aber Food Surplus project, were planting herbs, salads and vegetables in empty planters around the town during the pandemic.

The team originally started planting in nine planters and received an environmental award from Menter Aberystwyth for their “seed sharing” and “urban ‘guerrilla growing’ brightening up the town during the pandemic”.

However, on 18 May, the team discovered only two of the planters remained.

Ceredigion council confirmed a “number of planters have been removed from Aberystwyth town centre as there was no agreed or approved use for them at this time”.

Tyfu Aber Grow has removed the salads and herbs from the remaining two planters, in case they are also removed.

Heather McClure, one of the founders of Aber Food Surplus, said: “It is so sad what has happened as so many volunteers have put so much time in to growing the seedlings.

“We took over the boxes ‘guerilla’ style during the pandemic as they were unused by the county council, and we have continued to make them beautiful and plant ‘cut and come again’ salads and herbs and some showcase and heritage vegetables to brighten up the town.

“There were nine planters we were caring for, and only two were left - we had labelled the planters with our contact information and links to social media inviting community members to join in.

“We also received an award from Menter Aberystwyth for our seed sharing and our urban ‘guerrilla growing’ brightening up the town during the pandemic.

“We think the county council has removed them, we have asked them where they have gone and why they have gone, but we have not heard back. Community members were excited and some took over spaces in the castle grounds too.”

The council said they had received the first communication on this mater from “a local group” on 19 May and would “respond to them in due course”.

A spokesperson for Ceredigion County Council added: “The location and use of the county council’s assets, including planters and flower beds, is subject to ongoing review.

“This reflects changes to requirements and/or the arrangements which underpin and support their use which can include either directly by the council or by third parties.

“There is a licensing process in place to consider and potentially facilitate the approved use of these assets by third parties prior to this commencing. This allows the necessary consideration of health and safety issues and confirmation of the related responsibilities and potential liabilities.”

In a post on Facebook, Heather said they have received “positive comments from the local community” regarding their project, and such outside spaces are even more importance as “in Aberystwyth many people live in flats”.