Whitworth host North West judges for village's first ever ‘In Bloom’

Date published: 10 August 2019

North West in Bloom judges visited the village of Whitworth in July for their first-time entry in the North West in Bloom competition.

Whitworth in Bloom is a community based, volunteer led organisation which aims to initiate a movement in Whitworth to improve the sense of civic pride through imaginative planting whilst encouraging recycling and sustainability projects and eliminating eyesores that blight our streets such as litter, graffiti and vandalism.

Whitworth Town Council’s idea was to combine the groups that are already working hard to improve the local environment and work on one project together.

The committee of seven willing volunteers was formed on 31 March 2019, and the achievements already made are amazing, after only four months of getting the village in full bloom.

Whitworth Town Council told us about their route:

Welcome to Whitworth Stone

Before we got on with blooming the boundary, what better place to start the judging route than the northern entrance to Whitworth? With the help of community volunteers and the 41st Whitworth Scouts planting skills the area has been transformed.

The eye-catching planted bike feature was a no brainer as this is also the start of our local cycleway. 

Barley View

Barley View residents were thrilled to show the North West in Bloom judges their colourful displays in raised beds and baskets which ensure that they are accessible for those with restricted mobility. 

The courtyard garden includes sustainable bird tables, a wishing well and raised planters made from               upcycled pallets. The bird tables together with the wildflower planting will help to support the natural habitat and also for a sensory and calming feature for the dementia patients.

The herb garden offers home grown sustainable kitchen ingredients and the garden features upcycled and second-hand benches donated by the community. They have involved young people and volunteers in creating this garden space.

 

 

Hall Street

Hall Street is a central point in our elongated town. The Spodden Valley Revealed project had made some improvements to the corner of Hall Street, but they had left one of the flower beds unplanted hoping that one of the local community groups would adopt it.

Whitworth’s local girl guides came forward and designed and planted a feature at Hall Street.

Community volunteers have been watering and weeding this area.

 

 

The Bug Stop

In April, the Bug Stop was a bit of a bug bear. It was rife with weeds, fly posting and a derelict bus stop.  With a couple of hours community involvement and some kind donations, the area has seen a real difference, even though it is still a work in progress.

We were keen to attract pollinators to this area (hence the name) and Whitworth Youth kindly made an amazing bug hotel which takes pride of place in the centre of the bed.  The group have planted bee and butterfly-friendly buddleia, borage, comfrey, lavender and herbs.

The bus stop is currently being transformed into the ‘BUG’.

 

 

Union Street

Local resident Linda was one of the inspirations behind starting bloom. She has been maintaining this planter on Union Street for years since Rossendale Council stopped tending to it.

Linda admits she didn’t know much about gardening when she started, she said: "If a plant lived then it could stay, if it died, I would plant something else."

 

 

Whitworth Memorial Gardens

The Horticultural Society was another key inspiration behind starting our in-bloom journey. Members have been looking after the memorial gardens, bowling green and the planters outside the Riverside for years now, voluntarily. Thankfully, they have a wealth of horticultural knowledge and experience and have advised us brilliantly.

The memorial garden is the jewel in the crown and the judges seemed blown away by what the volunteers have achieved here.

 

 

Friends of Whitworth Library Rockery

Friends of Whitworth Library group joined forces with Whitworth Men in Sheds to renovate the overgrown rockery outside Whitworth Library. This amazing transformation all happened since 23 May 2019 and was only possible thanks to generous donations of time, resources and plants to attract wildlife and make the library a nicer place.

 

 

Schools

Even our local primary schools got involved with the community effort.

 

 

 

The committee are planning another meeting to start to put a plan into motion for next year’s entry.

If you want to get involved please contact Melanie at Whitworth Town Council on 01706 852018 or email:

• info@whitworth.gov.uk