Page 10 - Real Rochdale Issue 09 Winter 2020

As well as running his own company, Evergreen sponsorship means we have been able to do
Paul Ellison with a Royal Horticultural Society judge at Jubilee Park in Norden
allows for visits to community-based projects –
entitled It’s Your Neighbourhood – that include
local schools, allotments, health and well-being
projects and conservation areas.
In the wider scheme of North West in Bloom, the
main Pennines in Bloom entries were awarded
an overall gold, following a host of accolades for
displays at Hollingworth Lake (gold in the best
large tourist destination category), Milnrow
Memorial Park (silver gilt for small park
category) and Hare Hill Park (gold for small park
category). Wardle Village came away with a
modest silver for best large village, and both
Milnrow Memorial Park and Hare Hill Park also
received a National Certificate of Distinction for
Parks.
Ray beams over a coffee: “We entered 16 It’s
Your Neighbourhood entries; two entries were
new, so achieved levels two and three [there is a
limit on the level awarded for new entries], three
were awarded the highest level of five, and the
rest were all fours.”
“I’ve been in horticulture all my life. I knew when
I was eight this is what I wanted to do and was
working on an allotment at 10. Everyone at
school laughed.”
REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2020 10
He quickly adds with a grin: “I knew I’d have the
last laugh though.”
Leaving school with no qualifications, Ray went
back into education, gaining his maths, English
and science requirements before achieving his
RHS City and Guilds, ensuring he has enjoyed
many a year doing what he loves: “I still enjoy
what I do now; you can’t beat it! I’m the first one
there and the last away.”
Paul, of Norden, began volunteering just days
after his eighth birthday – starting out with the
now-disbanded Naden Valley Conservation
Group – and he has never looked back.
When he was 12, Paul was presented with a
Certificate of Commendation from the Rochdale
and Oldham Groundwork Trust by Norden ward
councillor James Gartside, honouring the four
years of voluntary work he had then carried out.
A familiar face around the borough – especially
in the village where he lives – father-of-one Paul
can usually be found getting his hands dirty,
whether it’s planting flowers and trees, to
clearing fly-tipping and sprucing up unloved
patches of land.
Landscapes, in recent years, he has also become
chairman of NEEVA (Norden Environment
and Economic Village Association), the Friends
of Norden Jubilee Park, set up the Friends of
Ashworth Valley, and became vice-chairman of
Rochdale in Bloom.
“We’d like to get back to the nationals again,
definitely,” Paul nods, referring to the success
Rochdale in Bloom enjoyed in 2018, chosen to
go forward as the North West representative in
the large town/small city category for the bigger
Britain in Bloom awards.
Last year, Rochdale’s entry was named as the
category winner after achieving a gold for the
large town/small city category, the highest
individual award available.
Paul tells us Rochdale has the most community
entries in the North West, surely an
achievement in itself before even considering
the volume of level five and four scores awarded.
For 2019’s wider projects, Rochdale received
four golds, a silver gilt, a silver, a bronze, an
outstanding plus four awards for individuals.
He adds: “Rochdale in Bloom will become a lot
more community led in the future, but corporate
The Remembrance Garden created in Rochdale town centre in 2018
11
what we have.”
“We’ve been awarded the title for doing what we
do, and we’re going to carry on. We’re still going
to be active in our communities and will help out
other community groups and offer our support
in any way we can,” Paul says as Ray nods in
agreement. “As Men of Rochdale, we’d like to get
out and about, attend events and functions, and
be seen together.”
Both Ray and Paul are keen to improve upon
their annual displays, which bring so much colour
to the towns in the summer, and recognise the
value of their volunteers’ hard work.
“Work begins in the autumn for the
following year, it’s not just for the summer. And
we definitely couldn’t have such stunning
displays without the dedication and commitment
from our wonderful volunteers.”
“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” Ray chuckles. “We
plan to keep doing what we do, and just polish up
our designs so our areas look the best they can
be.
“We want to improve our existing areas in such a
way that people notice a difference.”
REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2020