Rochdale sweeps up at North West in Bloom awards

Rochdale continued its winning streak at this year's North West in Bloom awards after judges deemed floral displays and award-winning parks as shining examples, just days after Rochdale had been awarded ‘best small city' in the national finals.

A record number of outstanding entries secured the council, local businesses and the many community gardeners a very impressive 20 gold awards across the borough – all met with rapturous applause at an awards ceremony held at Bolton Stadium Hotel on Thursday 20 October 2022.
 

Read more: Heywood In Bloom picks up 19 awards at North West In Bloom awardsPublished: 22 October 2022
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Rochdale was once again chosen as the pick of the bunch, taking gold and the overall winner in the ‘small city’ category, plus gold for ‘town centre’ and the trophy for ‘best town’.

Denehurst Park in Rochdale upped its game this year taking gold in the ‘large parks’ category - the first time the park had been awarded gold after achieving silver gilt awards in the last two years.

Local businesses, Zen Internet in Rochdale achieved gold in the ‘small commercial’ category, The Baum pub took gold again for ‘small accommodation’, plus there was a bronze for The Oxford pub.

Spotland and Falinge bagged a gold award in the ‘urban community’ category, and the delightful Healey Dell Heritage Centre and tea rooms took gold in ‘small tourist attraction’.

Other superb achievements included the best mosque for Jamia Masjid Bilal for the attention to detail and environmental efforts, plus the best hospice in the North West for Springhill Hospice, including an outstanding contribution award for Nick Dent - head gardener at the hospice who retired last year.

Paul Ellison, vice chairman of Rochdale In Bloom, said: “It was another outstanding day for Rochdale in Bloom and this is only down to the achievement of the volunteers which made it possible.

“We’ve seen big changes in Rochdale In Bloom, going from strength to strength and now we have to keep and maintain this high level in future years.

“Special thanks to our sponsors, especially H Bell and Sons, and our partners Rochdale Borough Council who help out our community voluntary group.”

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Rochdale In Bloom full list of results

Gold

• Denehurst Park (Park)
• Kirkholt In Bloom (Urban Community)
• Rochdale in Bloom (Small City – winner)
• Rochdale town centre (Town/City Centre – winner)
• Spotland and Falinge (Urban Community)
• Healey Dell Heritage Centre and Tea Rooms (Small Tourist Attraction/Visitor Centre)
• The Baum (Small Accommodation)
• Zen Internet (Small Retail/Commercial/Industrial Park)

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Bronze

• The Oxford (Small Accommodation)

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Discretionary awards

• Community Housing Award (Rochdale Boroughwide Housing)
• Clean Sweep Award (Rochdale Environmental Action Group)
• Best Mosque (Jamia Masjid Bilal)
• Outstanding Contribution (Nick Dent)
• Health and Wellbeing (HMP Buckley Hall)
• RHS Involving Children and Young People (Lock 50 Gardening Group)
• RHS Gardening in a Changing Climate (Golden Mosque)
• RHS Overcoming Adversity (Moss Street Youth Centre)
• 5 Years Outstanding (The Growth Project)
• Best Hospice (Springhill Hospice)

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Rochdale In Bloom It's Your Neighbourhood full results

Level 5 Outstanding

• Q Gardens
• Yew Court
• Alice Ingham Court Residents Garden
• Bamford Chapel and Norden U.R.C.
• Broad Lane Community Woodland
• Castleton Railway Station
• Castleton Village Green and War Memorial
• Edenfield Road Alleygate
• Friends of Bamford Community Garden
• Friends of Caldershaw Green
• Greenbank Road Gardens
• HMP Buckley Hall
• Jamia Masjid Bilal
• Petrus Incredible Edible Allotments – PIER
• Roch Valley Outdoor Learning Site
• Rochdale AFC 'Wonderwall'
• Rochdale Environmental Action Group (REAG)
• Springhill Hospice
• St John the Baptist RC Church
• Stoney Hill Community Wildlife Area
• The Growth Project Rochdale
• The Willows Dementia Hub

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Level 4 Thriving

• Arnold Bagnall Court
• New Pioneers at Spotland Community Centre
• Blue Pits Housing Action - Dunsterville House
• Central Mosque
• Falinge Park
• Golden Mosque
• Kirkholt Million - Rhodes Ravine
• Lock 50 Gardening Group (Rochdale Canal)
• Mere Street Environment Enhancement Project
• Moss St Youth Centre
• Shelfield Cottage Garden, Norden
• St Mary in the Baum

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Level 3 Advancing

• Blooming Marvellous Garden
• Friends of St Edmunds Church
• Friends of Syke and Cronkeyshaw Community Herb Garden
• Neeli Mosque and Islamic Centre
• Rochdale Parish Church of St Chad's
• Spotland Walking Trail
• Tulip Grove Community Orchard & Wildflower Meadow
• UKIM Madina Masjid Newbold
• Vintage Worx Community Development Trust Falinge Park Community Restoration

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Level 2 Improving

• Ashfield Road Education Centre
• Cutgate Bikes
• Darul Ilm