‘In Bloom’ committee hopeful of success following RHS judges visit to Rochdale Township

Judges visited the Rochdale Township on Tuesday for the In Bloom contest

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The Rochdale in Bloom committee say they are both delighted and relieved after the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) judges visited the township on Tuesday to judge the annual entry in the North West in Bloom competition.

Rochdale was visited by two horticultural specialists who assessed the township based on three key criteria: Horticultural Achievement, Environmental Responsibility and Community Participation.

Judges were taken on a tour of the township which included features in many different areas including Moss Row Allotments, Rochdale Golf Club, Ravendale Residents Gardens, Edenfield Road Alley Gate Scheme, Rochdale AFC/Hornets, Denehurst Park, The Roch Valley Educational Project, St. Edward’s Primary School, Castleton Station, Zen Internet, Springhill Hospice, The Kellet Street Growth Project and Petrus.

Following the conclusion of the tour, which began at Jubilee Park, the judges moved on to take a closer look at Rochdale Town Centre as part a specific town centre award.

Committee chairman, Nigel Morrell said: “It has been a real pleasure to show representatives from the RHS some of the very best projects that Rochdale Township has to offer. We have visited schools, allotments, parks, alley gate schemes, businesses, and public areas which have all shown very different aspects our town. Everywhere we have gone we have seen amazing community involvement and outstanding amounts of effort which are the very essence of Rochdale in Bloom.

“Our thanks must go to the Council’s Environmental Management team who have worked with us to make sure that the municipal areas of the route have been to a very high standard. However, the stars of the show have definitely been our community groups and volunteers.”

Committee vice chairman Roy Down said: “We have worked with some great new partners and sponsors this year and our thanks go to them for their support.

"The judges were pleased to see us including new projects in this year’s tour. Shining lights like Springhill Hospice and Zen Internet’s amazing gardens are always a pleasure to visit, but every one of our stops adds to the amazing diversity to be found around Rochdale Township.”

North West in Bloom is the voluntary regional organisation that administers the Britain in Bloom competition in Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, one of the 18 regions comprising Britain in Bloom.

Since 1964, the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom is one of the most effective, and longest running environmental competitions in the UK, with communities demonstrating their ability to create and maintain attractive environments that benefit all.

From the mill towns of Lancashire to the picturesque villages of both Cheshire and the Lancashire coast, every city, town, urban community and village is eligible to enter. The aim of the competition is to encourage the improvement of our surroundings through the imaginative use of trees, shrubs, flowers and landscaping. It also aims to achieve a litter free and sustainable environment.

The results of the visit will not be known until October, but the committee is pleased with how the day went and are very hopeful of replicating the outstanding success that the township experienced in 2016 when it won a record number of gold awards.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/105920/golden-success-at-rhs-%E2%80%98in-bloom%E2%80%99-awards