Bournemouth man grows sunflower measuring over 10ft

Trevor James, 81, a keen gardener from Bournemouth has grown a sunflower that is over 10 feet tall and could be the biggest in Dorset.

The sunflower was planted back in May and "regular maintenance" has been the key to its growth. 

Trevor said: "I water with 50% water and 50% urine, that's why this one has got so big.

"This is the tallest sunflower I have ever grown."

The enormous plant was once even bigger however after a squirrel attack on Wednesday, September 28, Trevour's sunflower dropped by "at least two feet."

The damage the squirrel had done to Trevor's prized plant left him feeling "miffed."

Trevor added: "I came home and saw the squirrel still in the sunflower, with loads of it broken off on the floor.

"I shook the plant to make it come down but it had already taken at least two feet off the height.

Trevor James's giant sunflower (Image: Evie Coffey, Newsquest)

"I don't know where it came from because I never see squirrels around here usually, I was pretty miffed when I saw what it had done."

"Soon it will be time to cut down the sunflowers before the squirrels completely have them. I will pick out all the seeds, dry them out and then they will be ready to give to the birds in the winter."

Trevor moved to Bournemouth from Wales in 1962 and worked at Kinson Cemetery as a superintendent for 30 years. 

Now retired, he spends most of his time in his garden. 

Trevor added: "I have always been interested in gardening, my dad was also a keen gardener so I guess I have followed in his footsteps.

"I also grow loads of other things in my garden, I grow a lot of potatoes.

"I like to keep my garden looking nice otherwise I won't enjoy using the space."