Clean sweep of top awards for Norden In Bloom

Date published: 18 October 2022

Norden In Bloom has scored a clean sweep of top marks in the community-led It’s Your Neighbourhood accolades at this year’s North West In Bloom awards (Tuesday 18 October).

All five of Norden’s entries – Ashworth Valley, Taylor Park, Norden Jubilee Park, Moss Row Allotments and Norden Bowling Club – received the Royal Horticultural Society’s highest grade possible, Level 5 Outstanding, for their community-led projects.

The regional North West in Bloom competition consists of two judging days in the summer ahead of an autumn awards ceremony. The first day is a guided tour taking in areas of interest around Rochdale; the second allows for visits to community-based projects that include local schools, allotments, health and well-being projects and conservation areas.

Paul Ellison, chairman of Norden In Bloom, said: “It’s a fantastic achievement for all the neighbourhood groups to have scored the highest mark.

“These incredible results are all down to the brilliant ongoing work of dedicated groups of volunteers and are rightly deserved for each.”

Phil Starr added: “It's an outstanding recognition for all the hard work done by the different communities in and around blooming Norden.”

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. This year marks its seventh entry into the competition.

This year volunteers in Ashworth Valley have dramatically reduced instances of fly-tipping and spruced up the valley with litter picks and planting colourful displays. This marks the Friends of Ashworth Valley’s fourth entry into the awards.

The Friends of Taylor Park have transformed the small green space into a blooming oasis enjoyed by many local residents. This year, it has benefitted from new additions including planters and trees, and volunteers maintain the hedges. 2022 is their second time in the competition.

Norden Bowling Club also became involved two years ago, deciding to involve the community. Its gardens are funded by charity events held twice a year and by donations of plants and monies by local residents. The club has also formed a fun gardening club which meets every Tuesday and aims to form a community orchard and seating area at the back of the bowling green.

Christine McHugh, of Moss Row Allotments, which has entered It’s Your Neighbourhood seven times, said: “We are pleased and relieved that once again we have been awarded a level 5.

“It has been a challenging year following the acceptance of lottery funding enabling the site to become more inclusive, with the levelling of paths and the installation of an accessible toilet.

“The level 5 result is a wonderful recognition of all the work that we do.”