Heywood fire station's floral touch is a blooming success

Heywood fire station's floral touch is a bloomng success (photos were taken in the summer)

Heywood Fire Station’s efforts to spruce up the town during the summer proved to be a blooming success recently when crews picked up an award.

Supported by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), the fire station took part in the 2012 Heywood in Bloom event, which was recently awarded a Silver Medal in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) North West in Bloom competition.

Firefighters from Heywood Fire Station’s Red Watch attended an awards ceremony and buffet on behalf of GMFRS and the station on Thursday, December 6, at TOPS Business Centre.

Crew Manager Chris Fowles said: “As a watch and as a station we put a lot of work into the scheme – collecting the plants and sorting out the bedding box. We planted it out and the other watches have helped with the watering and tidying up so it was fantastic to have been involved with the success of the initiative.”

The fire station got into the spirit of North West in Bloom by introducing hanging baskets and a new flower bed which incorporated a kitchen fire safety message that encouraged people to ditch their chip pans.

They also welcomed a special guest to the station – in the form of a tin man with a pan.

Crew Manager Fowles said: “The tin man was originally created by a friend of mine Darren Buckley for the Olympic torch relay when it came to Heywood and he had a patio heater mounted on it so it gave off heat.

“I asked him if we could use it at the station and I adapted it to hold a pan and help to spread the fire safety message.”

Station Manager Ian Tracey added: “GMFRS is encouraging people to ban the pan and use safer alternatives such as deep fat fryers or oven chips – as we’re on one of the main routes into Heywood we thought we could use our entry to spread the message and ensure it’ll be seen as many people as possible.

“Everyone pulled together to spruce up the station, and we thought it would be fitting to use the opportunity to promote fire safety in a different way.

“We’d like to thank Bowlee Garden Nursery, which is run by Rochdale Borough Council, who donated the flowers.”