Rochdale in Bloom shows its roots in the community on regional judging day

Date published: 06 August 2021

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) North West in Bloom competition was welcomed back to Rochdale this week, in what will amount to a total of five days of judging.

On Thursday 5 August, RHS judges Bernard Pendleton and Maxine Lord toured the town to examine the visual presentation and efforts of the local Rochdale in Bloom group.

Going for gold again this year, Rochdale was judged to be the best ‘small city’ and winner of the overall North West in Bloom trophy in 2019, winning gold for the fourth year in a row.

No competition took place in 2020, with all In Bloom and community led It’s Your Neighbourhood entries deferred until 2021.

 

Read more: Rochdale In Bloom: overall category winner of Large Town/Small City at RHS North West in Bloom awardsPublished: 01 November 2019

 

For the regional competition, entries and features across the town are judged individually, unlike the national competition, Britain in Bloom, where the route is a ‘snapshot’ of the whole town.

This year, the regional route took the judges on a journey around 20 local ‘in bloom’ projects and impressive horticultural displays, beginning at Nutters Restaurant in Norden and finishing in Rochdale town centre.
 

Read more: Rochdale in Bloom launches 2021 entryPublished: 06 July 2021

 

Welcoming their guests, Rochdale in Bloom members, accompanied by local councillors, invited the RHS judges for a warm breakfast at Nutters before heading to Norden Jubilee Park.

Managed by volunteers of all ages from the Friends of Norden Jubilee Park, which was formed in 2012, judges were shown the 16 self-watering hanging baskets, the wishing tree in memory of Councillor Ann Metcalfe and the general upkeep of the park. For the fourth year running, Jubilee Park will be judged for a RHS Park Award.

 

 

The next stop on the route was a new It’s Your Neighbourhood entry this year: Caldershaw Green. A haven for bees, insects and birds, this entry boasted three wildflower areas, a new swale, willow fencing created by a local family, and approximately 30 fruit trees that were planted in spring.

 

 

After months of keeping Rochdale in full floral colour, members from the volunteer-led community group then proceeded to show the judges around the colourful sights at Edenfield Road Alleygate, Rochdale AFC’s Wonderwall, Castleton Railway Station, Castleton War Memorial, Zen Internet, Springhill Hospice, and the Growth Project, which aims to support mental health through gardening.

 

 

 

After lunch at The Willows Café, the remainder of the afternoon saw the judges in Rochdale town centre.

Since the judges last visit, the building work surrounding the Rochdale Riverside shopping and leisure complex has finished, so was showcased as a town centre entry.

Another new entry this year was Baillie Street Quarter, which has given the site of some of the town centre’s idependent shops, plus several ginnels including Bull Brow, The Butts Avenue, and The Bank steps, a new identity. Work here has included cleaning street cabinets, jet washing shops, installing hanging baskets and planters, and removing disused signs.

 

 

 

In its permanent location at Rochdale Memorial Gardens, Rochdale in Bloom’s striking World War I pop-up memorial garden finished the town centre route. A project to act as a reminder that Rochdale families suffered considerably because of the war, the installation was facilitated by In Bloom volunteers along with H Bell & Sons and the armed forces community.

A spokesman for H Bell & Sons said: “We are delighted to be involved again in this year’s Rochdale in Bloom, providing sponsorship and support. As a long-standing Rochdale business, we are always eager to support and be involved in the local community.

“Lots of hard work has already taken place and we hope that together we can build on the success of previous years!”
 

Read more: New displays commemorate centenary of Royal British LegionPublished: 15 May 2021

 

 

For 2021, Rochdale in Bloom not only partnered with local business H Bell & Sons, but also Richard Hagan, of Crystal Doors who provided funding to create the new Rochdale in Bloom website, and Angela Collinge, who runs Cutgate’s Amber Pets, who sponsored two In Bloom projects – The Cutgate Bikes and Norden Rockery.

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, H Bell and Sons, Crystal Doors and Amber Pets.

"We hope we do Rochdale proud.”

 

 

Paul Ellison, vice chair of Rochdale in Bloom added: “It would be fantastic to retain gold. The in bloom contest is something to look forward to and enjoyed by so many volunteers and members of the public.

“A very special thank you goes to our partners, H Bell & Sons, Richard Hagan, Angela Collinge and Andrew Nutter.

“Thanks must also go to Rochdale Borough Council for helping out our community group. Their Environmental Management team do so much in the town centre and on the route. They keep everything looking so wonderfully tidy and inviting with the planters and their displays.”

Councillor Philip Massey, a member of the Rochdale in Bloom team, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the judges from the RHS back into Rochdale. Our entry has co-operation built into its DNA.

“From the hard-working volunteers of the Rochdale in Bloom committee to the council’s environmental teams, generous local businesses, and proud residents. It wouldn’t work if it wasn’t for everyone pulling together and going above and beyond to show our town at its best.”

With a 2021 theme of ‘community’, RHS judges visited Masjids in Bloom on Monday (2 August) and will visit a brand-new entry this year, Norden in Bloom, on Tuesday 10 August as part of the five-day judging.
 

Read more: Judges visit five Rochdale mosques for Masjids in Bloom initiativePublished: 04 August 2021