RHS ‘North West Britain in Bloom’ award for Hopwood Hall Estate

Photo: Jimmy Carter

Hopwood Hall Estate - It’s Your Neighbourhood 2022

The volunteer gardening team at Hopwood Hall Estate were awarded ‘Outstanding’ in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom competition at a special awards luncheon on 18 October for those shortlisted in the North West region.

The region’s ‘North West Britain in Bloom’ and ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood 2022’ awards presentation took place at the Bolton Stadium Hotel located at the Bolton Wanderers football stadium.

The head of RHS North West in Bloom, Bernard Pendleton said that the team from the Hopwood Hall Estate Garden Project had put in a sterling effort in their first year and this warranted a Level 5, Outstanding certificate - the highest accolade in the awards.

Hopwood DePree said: “I have been astonished and incredibly inspired by the volunteers who have worked tirelessly at the Hall and its gardens.

“When we took on the rescue of the hall in 2017, what had been beautiful gardens in their heyday during the late 1800s to the mid 1900s were completely derelict and overgrown. It has taken a huge amount of community support, determination and tenacity by all those concerned, and I couldn’t be more grateful and pleased to see their amazing efforts are officially recognised.”

He added: “Interestingly during the pandemic, our volunteer force increased as people found the gardening project both satisfying and uplifting during those challenging times.”
 

Read more: Redwood School’s lower sixth plant sensory garden at Hopwood Hall Estate as part of John Muir AwardPublished: 01 May 2022

Indeed, the determined volunteers who are members of the Hopwood Foundation Friends continue to transform the gardens of Hopwood Hall Estate and their work to date has enabled the hall to welcome visitors to open days such as a very well-attended summer 'picnic on the lawn' and tour of some rooms of the hall which drew much admiration for the garden work.

Those attending the awards ceremony were: Pam Taylor; Boyd Taylor; Alison Leach; Janet Beaumont; Jimmy Carter; Mark Carter; May Statham; Viv Staniforth; Stephanie Yewdale; Amanda Milston; and Geraldine Connor.