Page 15 - Real Rochdale Issue 20 Winter 2023

IN BLOOM AWARDS: BOROUGH Rochdale In Bloom – Best small city

81 awards including eight golds, a silver and 58
LANDS 24 GOLDS AND 3 WINS It’s Your Neighbourhood entries.

Golds were awarded for the town centre,
Denehurst Park, Zen Internet, the Flying Horse
Hotel, Kirkholt & Balderstone In Bloom,
The Rochdale borough proved it was the pick of Spotland & Falinge, and Healey Dell Tea Rooms.
the bunch at this year’s North West In Bloom
regional finals of the Royal Horticultural Other superb achievements included a silver for
Society’s Britain in Bloom competition. new entry Healey, Syke & Shawclough, the best
mosque for Golden Mosque for the attention to

Rochdale In Bloom took gold in the ‘small city’ detail and environmental efforts, the best
group and was named joint gold winner commercial effort for Zen Internet, a schools’
alongside Chorley. They also took gold for ‘town award for Spotland Primary and a discretionary
centre’ after judges marked the presentation of award for Q Community Gardens.
the town as first-class, noting the much
improved Baillie Street Quarter, thanks also to Heywood In Bloom – Best town centre
investments from Rochdale Business 19 awards including five golds, one silver gilt and
Improvement District (BID). nine It’s Your Neighbourhood entries.
• Outstanding contribution 2023 – Ellen
Heywood town centre gained gold and was Yates, chair of Heywood in Bloom
selected as the overall winner of the ‘town • Discretionary award (Growing Communities) Edenfield Road alley gate scheme
centre’ category, naming the town as the best – Heywood in Bloom community allotment
in the North West after judges deemed floral • Schools’ award – St Luke’s CE Primary School
displays and maintenance as “exemplary” and
Louise Scott from Rochdale in Bloom with RHS judges at the Norden In Bloom took gold and was named as Middleton In Bloom
WWI Memorial Garden in Rochdale town centre 16 awards including three golds and 10 It’s Your
best joint ‘large village’.
Neighbourhood entries.
A record number of outstanding entries this year • Outstanding contribution 2023 – Davina
across the local In Bloom groups – Rochdale, Unsworth
Norden, Middleton, Heywood and Pennines – • Discretionary award (Parks and Green
secured the council, local businesses and the Spaces) – Jubilee Park
many community gardeners a very impressive • Discretionary award (Wild About Gardens) –
24 gold awards across the borough. Croft Community Garden
Castleton Station
The regional North West In Bloom competition Norden In Bloom – Best large village
consists of two judging days. The first is a guided 12 awards including four golds and five It’s Your
tour taking in areas of interest; the second Neighbourhood entries.
allows for visits to over 100 community-based • Best large accommodation – Birtle Brook
projects – ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ – that Village
include local schools, allotments, health and • Best commercial – Pavilion
wellbeing projects and conservation areas. • Discretionary award – Ashworth Valley

Finalists were judged according to strengthened Pennines In Bloom
environmental criteria that encourages groups 27 awards including four golds, two silver gilts
to consider sustainability issues and implement and 20 It’s Your Neighbourhood entries.
planet-friendly gardening techniques within • Discretionary award – Ladybarn Bowling
Bilal Mosque their community projects. Club, Milnrow Kirkholt & Balderstone In Bloom

Photos: Rochdale In Bloom
REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2023 14 15 REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2023