Winter 2023In Bloom awards: borough lands 24 golds and 3 wins

The Rochdale borough proved it was the pick of the bunch at this year’s North West In Bloom regional finals of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom competition.

Rochdale In Bloom took gold in the ‘small city’ group and was named joint gold winner alongside Chorley. They also took gold for ‘town centre’ after judges marked the presentation of the town as first-class, noting the much improved Baillie Street Quarter, thanks also to investments from Rochdale Business Improvement District (BID).

Heywood town centre gained gold and was selected as the overall winner of the ‘town centre’ category, naming the town as the best in the North West after judges deemed floral displays and maintenance as “exemplary” and Norden In Bloom took gold and was named as best joint ‘large village’.

A record number of outstanding entries this year across the local In Bloom groups – Rochdale, Norden, Middleton, Heywood and Pennines – secured the council, local businesses and the many community gardeners a very impressive 24 gold awards across the borough.

The regional North West In Bloom competition consists of two judging days. The first is a guided tour taking in areas of interest; the second allows for visits to over 100 community-based projects – ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ – that include local schools, allotments, health and wellbeing projects and conservation areas.

Finalists were judged according to strengthened environmental criteria that encourages groups to consider sustainability issues and implement planet-friendly gardening techniques within their community projects.

Rochdale In Bloom – Best small city

81 awards including eight golds, a silver and 58 It’s Your Neighbourhood entries.

Golds were awarded for the town centre, Denehurst Park, Zen Internet, the Flying Horse Hotel, Kirkholt & Balderstone In Bloom, Spotland & Falinge, and Healey Dell Tea Rooms.

Other superb achievements included a silver for new entry Healey, Syke & Shawclough, the best mosque for Golden Mosque for the attention to detail and environmental efforts, the best commercial effort for Zen Internet, a schools’ award for Spotland Primary and a discretionary award for Q Community Gardens.

Heywood In Bloom – Best town centre

19 awards including five golds, one silver gilt and nine It’s Your Neighbourhood entries.

• Outstanding contribution 2023 – Ellen Yates, chair of Heywood in Bloom
• Discretionary award (Growing Communities) – Heywood in Bloom community allotment
• Schools’ award – St Luke’s CE Primary School

Middleton In Bloom

16 awards including three golds and 10 It’s Your Neighbourhood entries.

• Outstanding contribution 2023 – Davina Unsworth
• Discretionary award (Parks and Green Spaces) – Jubilee Park
• Discretionary award (Wild About Gardens) – Croft Community Garden

Norden In Bloom – Best large village

12 awards including four golds and five It’s Your Neighbourhood entries.

• Best large accommodation – Birtle Brook Village
• Best commercial – Pavilion
• Discretionary award – Ashworth Valley

Pennines In Bloom

27 awards including four golds, two silver gilts and 20 It’s Your Neighbourhood entries.

• Discretionary award – Ladybarn Bowling Club, Milnrow