Regional judging day for Rochdale In Bloom

Date published: 24 July 2019

This year’s Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) North West In Bloom competition came to Rochdale on Monday (22 July 2019) to judge the visual presentation and efforts of Rochdale In Bloom throughout the borough.

Going for gold again this year, Rochdale has achieved Gold Medal status for the last three years at the regional awards, and last year represented the North West nationally in the 'Small City' category.

For the regional competition, entries and features across the town are judged individually, unlike the national competition where the route is a ‘snapshot’ of the whole town. This year, the regional route took the judges on a journey around 14 award-winning projects, beginning at Norden Jubilee Park and finishing in Rochdale town centre.

 

 

Welcoming their guests, Rochdale In Bloom members, accompanied by local councillors and the Mayor of Rochdale, councillor Billy Sheerin, invited the RHS judges - Maxine Lord and Bernard Pendleton - for tea and coffee at The Bridge Café before heading to Norden Jubilee Park.

Vice chair of the Friends of Norden Jubilee Park, Phil Starr, showed the judges the 16 self-watering hanging baskets, the wishing tree in memory of Councillor Ann Metcalfe and the general upkeep of the park, with one judge commenting how ‘a nice show of colour makes all the difference’.

Last year, Jubilee Park was just one of four in the UK to be awarded a national certificate of distinction for the best RHS parks award.

 

 

 

 

After months of weeding, planting and keeping Rochdale in full floral colour, the volunteer-led community group proceeded to show the judges around the colourful sights at Moss Row Allotments, Edenfield Road Alley Gate, Denehurst Park, Rochdale AFC’s Wonder Wall, Roch Valley Outdoor Learning Centre, Castleton Railway Station, Castleton War Memorial, Zen Internet, Springhill Hospice and the Growth Project, which aims to support mental health through gardening.

Made into allotments in 1974, the Moss Row Community Allotment Society in Norden took over the derelict site from the council in 2005. Judges were told how 30 Year 3 children from Caldershaw Primary School enjoy annual pond dipping at the site, as well as identifying vegetables in the ground, discovering the heroes and villains of bug life, making bat boxes and planting fruit trees and bulbs.

 

 

 

 

On route to Edenfield Road Alley Gate, a talk was given to the judges about the work of NEEVA (Norden’s Environmental and Economic Village Association) maintaining Norden Rockery, Norden War Memorial and the various hanging baskets in Norden village.

Resident Bernice Clark, who began the Edenfield Road Alley Gate scheme with her neighbours, welcomed the judges who commented on the ‘beautiful walkway’ and ‘absolutely fantastic work by residents’.

 

 

 

 

 

Denehurst Park was the next stop on route to Rochdale AFC's Wonder Wall, where Ian Trickett, Parks and Open Spaces Development Manager, told how £338,000 was spent on re-investing in the park to restore the grounds with bridges, a new cemetery and to create the stumpery amongst other displays. An external grant of £98,000 was invested in the new pirate themed playground, which opened in April this year.

Frances Fielding, sales and marketing director at Rochdale AFC, told the judges about the 37 volunteers who helped plant the Wonder Wall this year, including Buckley Hall Prison who provided planters, after its first instalment in 2016. The wall was recently dedicated to the memory of Paul Hazlehurst, a director of the club for 15 years and a huge supporter of the project.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/128550/wonder-wall-goes-for-outstanding-hattrick

 

 

 

A site that used to house fly tipping, the Roch Valley Outdoor Learning Site project began in 2013 when Rochdale In Bloom made paths on the site and worked with several charities who donated plants. The space is currently used by four local primary schools and a high school who use the site for outdoor activities.

The latest instalment will be a wildflower meadow in August 2019.

 

 

 

Impressed with the planted mini cooper at Sudden roundabout, judges were even more impressed by Castleton Railway Station where they were greeted by members of Rochdale Lions Club who donated the flowers and local primary school students who planted them.

Rochdale In Bloom have a policy to add a new planter to the station every year.

 

 

 

A new fence was recently installed at Castleton War Memorial, produced by Rochdale Training apprentices. Mayor Sheerin gave the judges a brief history on the memorial project and how it has developed in recent years.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/128936/rochdale-training-install-bespoke-poppy-fence-around-castleton-war-memorial-for-rochdale-in-bloom

 

 

 

After lunch at Springhill Hospice’s Coffee at The Craven, the remainder of the afternoon saw the judges welcomed to St Edward’s Primary School who installed a poly tunnel two years ago growing fresh fruit and vegetables and have a resident bug hotel and wind and solar powered shed, and the gardens at Zen Internet which focus on the health and wellbeing of staff at Sandbrook House.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Springhill Hospice’s gardens were also visited where volunteers have installed a new floral labyrinth to celebrate the Hospice’s 30th anniversary.

Judges also went to The Growth Project which was flooded in March this year, but have continued to build up their horticultural abundance since then, supporting those with mental health issues by giving them gardening opportunities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The judges finished their route in the town centre where they observed the floral displays at The Flying Horse Hotel, Rochdale Memorial gardens and witnessed the new addition to Gracie Island – the Dippy the Dinosaur pop-up garden.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/129337/really-roarsome-dino-garden-springs-up-in-rochdale-town-centre

A Rainbow Garden near Touchstones to show support for the LGBTQ+ community in Rochdale has also been installed, following the announcement of Rochdale's first-ever pride event in November 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mayor of Rochdale, councillor Billy Sheerin, greeted the judges at the town hall before welcoming them onto the town hall balcony, where they caught an aerial view of the town centre in bloom.

Mayor Sheerin said: “What an absolutely terrific day we have had, I hope it was an enjoyable experience for the judges like it was for me.

“The judges were very receptive to our explanations and comments on displays and said they were very pleased with all the community involvement to help Rochdale bloom.

“With the sun shining and our fingers crossed, we’re hoping to take our third gold medal in a row.”

 

 

Roy Down, chairman of Rochdale in Bloom, said: “I think this year's effort from all the volunteers and Environmental Management teams has been unsurpassed. Everyone has stepped up, like always, ready for judging.

“The level of maintenance on baskets, planters, borders, parks and allotments throughout has been fantastic.

“A special thank you goes to my fellow In Bloom team members - their ongoing enthusiasm is amazing and all the volunteers who help us keep our town looking beautiful. It would not be possible without these volunteers and community groups, the council environmental management team, local councillors and our wonderful sponsors, the Co-op and H Bell and Sons.

"We hope we do Rochdale proud.”

 

 

Paul Ellison, vice chair of the In Bloom committee, said: “We’ve all been very busy with trimming, mowing, weeding and generally tidying up to impress the judges.

“This year we have upped our game due to our massive sponsorship support, allowing us to reach new heights, especially with the move of the WW1 pop-up garden which has new flagging provided by H Bell and Sons, so it can remain in its permanent home at Rochdale Memorial Gardens.

“We also have the new bicycle feature at Cutgate shops to celebrate the arrival of the Tour of Britain to Rochdale in September.

“The new displays and upkeep of sites around the town this year has only happened with a lot of hard work from a lot of people. Thank you to everyone who helps the Rochdale In Bloom committee reach success.”

The results will be announced at the RHS North West in Bloom awards ceremony on Friday 1 November 2019.