Page 11 - Real Rochdale Issue 09 Winter 2020

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

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