Pennines in Bloom pick up over 20 accolades at North West In Bloom awards

Date published: 28 October 2022

Pennines in Bloom has received over 20 accolades in this year’s North West In Bloom awards.

The Pennines group covers Firgrove, Milnrow, Newhey, Wardle and Littleborough, with most of their community-led projects picking up the Royal Horticultural Society’s highest grade possible for It’s Your Neighbourhood entries: Level 5 Outstanding, or a Level 4 Thriving.

The regional North West in Bloom competition consists of two judging days. The first is a guided tour taking in areas of interest; the second allows for visits to community-based projects – ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ – that include local schools, allotments, health and well-being projects and conservation areas.

The Crown and Shuttle Pub was the group’s only entry into the guided tour taking in areas of interest around Rochdale, earning an impressive silver gilt award in the Small Accommodation category at the later awards ceremony on Thursday (20 October).

Jenna North, who runs the pub, has fond memories of it being a community pub, and her parents' local when she was young. Wanting to recapture that feeling, she set about transforming the car park over lockdown with the help of family, friends and regulars.

She said: "As kids, we always used to play on the park and our parents would be in the beer garden. Covid gave us the time to do the work and it's gone from there.

"One of our regulars mentioned entering In Bloom, even though it's just a few planters, and we got bronze last year. I got the bug and said I was going for gold, which I'm aiming for next year. It's nice to be able to do this with family and friends; it's really humbling, actually. 

"My dad made the planters out of old scaffolding boards and regulars joined in when they saw me working on them. Our next project is a little boat area in memory of one of our regulars, Higgy, who passed away during the pandemic. We wanted to do something a bit different to a memorial bench, and he loved fishing. It's going to be all painted up, planted up and simulate the sea and the beach."

Ray Smith, the chairman of Pennines in Bloom, was also recognised for his outstanding contribution.

Level 5 Outstanding

• Littleborough Community Fire Station
• Smithy Bridge Road and back alley
• Wardle community gardens and precinct planters
• Firgrove village
• Sheriff Street
• Ladybarn Bowling Club

Level 4 Thriving

• Garden Mews Community Gardens
• Canal Street
• Canalside Gardens
• Shore In Bloom
• Henry Street, Chapel Street Community Garden and Allotments
• Wardle Conservation and Fold
• Watergrove Reservoir
• Milnrow memorial park
• Milnrow village
• Milnrow Parish Church, St James’

Level 3 Advancing

• Willie Edwards Fold community gardens
• Wardle War Memorial and Memorial Gardens
• Newhey village
• Milnrow district horticultural society store

Level 2 Improving

• Cray Gardens
• East Street Community Garden