Bloomin' Heywood

Queens Park in bloom

The ‘Heywood in Bloom’ group is to enter Heywood into a national competition in which a large part of the marks are awarded for the community working together.

The group are getting together a portfolio of words and photographs to submit to the judges by 31 May. This will give the judges some idea of what makes up Heywood and its environment. They will be looking at landscape planning and the overall impression, not just flowers in hanging baskets.

Marian Corns of Heywood in Bloom said: "A little bit of humour would not go unnoticed – think of the displays annually which win the Heywood Distribution Park awards each year. A road where every front garden contained a colourful scarecrow, for example, would be noticeable and brighten up an area!

"We know the judges will arrive sometime between the 5 July and the 6 August, but we will not be told the exact date until a few days before they are due. The judges will expect to be taken on a tour of the town by bus and be given the opportunity to slowly drive passed some areas and to get off to inspect other areas more closely.

"We are hoping that all residents and businesses will join in to make the town look good, since we do not know where the route will go yet or the route the judges might take when they make their independent way in and out of the town for their viewing.

"The Environment Team have promised to make every effort with the public spaces around the town and everyone from the large factory or office to the small shop, a church or community centre as well as residents in their own homes can make a big difference. A window box, hanging basket or just a neat bit of spare ground all make a good impression.

"If anybody has photographs of their garden, street or neighbourhood which they would like to submit for us to include in the displays, these can be left at the desk in the foyer of the Phoenix Centre, please mark the envelope ‘Heywood in Bloom’ and include your name and the area on the back of each photograph. We will not be able to return the photographs as they will be left on display after the event as a reminder that the event will be held again next year. These can be ‘before’ and ‘after’ shots but must be of places within the Heywood boundary."