The Growth Project Growing for Gold

The Growth Project at the Britain in Bloom National Competition Finals in Belfast

One of the main exhibits in Rochdale Township's bid for Gold at the Britain in Bloom National Competition Finals in Belfast, The Growth Project, was picked out for a special mention by the judges.

The judges said: “The Growth Project showed all three pillars of Britain in Bloom, ‘community involvement, horticultural excellence and environment/sustainability’.

“They deserve a special mention for the adversity they have fought and won when the project suffered serious flooding two years ago when a shipping container was washed away, and all fences and structures were destroyed."

Karen Hayday from The Growth Project said: “We are very proud of our attainments where we have gone from total destruction to being part of the Rochdale Township entry in the Britain in Bloom finals which was held last week in Belfast and was part of the team to bring back a Gold medal.

“We were also a late entry to finals having been put forward by the regional judges as being worthy to be judged at national standard.

“This led to twelve days of frenzied activity by all the projects volunteers and service users who moved in thirty-six tons of gravel by hand in six days to make the paths sparkle, and weeded the gardens within an inch of their lives.

“The growing conditions were very hard this year with the drought, but still we managed, according to the judges, the best example they had seen of an annual wild flower meadow and that our crops and cut flowers were amazing.

“All the plants on site are grown organically and the whole site is transformed from bare beds in April to a horticultural abundance in July.

“The week after judging the Growth Project opened its gates when as part of the National Garden Scheme's 'Garden Open for Charity'.

“We raised over £1,500 for the project and the National Garden Schemes Charities.”