A new Britain in Bloom entry for Norden

For the very first time this year, Norden will be entered into the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) North West in Bloom competition as a standalone entry.

RHS judges will visit a number of sites on Tuesday (10 August) to view blooming displays and community projects all associated with Norden.

With its very own itinerary and portfolio in the ‘Large Village’ category, the judges' Norden in Bloom route will begin over the hills of Owd Betts to learn more about the local history.

Around ten sites will then be visited throughout the day including the already successful Jubilee Park, Norden village, Norden rockery, Norden War Memorial, Norden Bowling Club, Ashworth Valley, St James’ Chapel, a private garden, Taylor Park, and Moss Row Allotments.

 

 

Norden’s Jubilee Park is already an award-winning green space, being bestowed a gold medal for the RHS Park Award twice in a row as well as a national distinction award at the 2019 North West Britain in Bloom.

 

Read more: Second year of golden success for Norden’s Jubilee Park Published: 01 November 2019

Contributing to this year’s In Bloom efforts, the Norden Environmental and Economic Village Association (NEEVA) became the first community group to adopt the council’s saddle planters in Norden, which will be looked after by volunteers until the end of 2021.
 

Read more: NEEVA becomes first community group to adopt council's saddle plantersPublished: 16 June 2021

 

 

Other projects to be discussed on judging day will be the annual Keep Britain Tidy Great British Spring Clean - when approximately 50 volunteers cleared 100 bags of rubbish from across Norden village, Greenbooth, Ashworth, Birtle, Rooley Moor and Caldershaw - as well as the problem of fly tipping in Ashworth Valley and the installation of five CCTV cameras throughout the valley to help curb it.
 

Read more: Volunteers spring into action and spruce up Norden for fifth Great British Spring CleanPublished: 01 June 2021

Read more: Additional CCTV for Ashworth Valley as cameras kick fly-tipping to the kerbPublished: 19 March 2021

The route on Tuesday will finish at Nutters Restaurant, whose owner, celebrity chef Andrew Nutter, is the Rochdale in Bloom group’s ambassador for another year. He has created allotments to serve the judges a special In Bloom-grown salad.

Paul Ellison, of Norden in Bloom, said: “I am really looking forward to showcasing the best of Norden for this brand new In Bloom entry.

“Norden in Bloom has a team of about a dozen people and various sponsors and partners including H Bell and Sons, Amber Pets, Rochdale Borough Council, NEEVA and Firefly Security who all contribute massively.

“Thank you to everyone who has come together and embraced the project to make this standalone entry happen.”