Blooming marvellous
Golden days as village claims first-time glory Floral displays win string of awards
ROCHDALE In Bloom has once again won Gold at this year’s North West In Bloom, and Norden In Bloom has won landed the honour at it’s first ever entry in the competition.
Volunteers have worked tirelessly and year round, including throughout lockdown, to ensure both Rochdale and the village of Norden look their best.
Norden has also won a raft of It’s Your Neighbourhood awards, as well as Best Newcomer.
Rochdale also won numerous Gold awards for parks, restaurants, and mosques.
Chairman of Norden In Bloom, Paul Ellison, said: “In Rochdale, we have gone to a different level over the past few years.
“We have mosques
THE borough of Rochdale has pulled it out of the bag yet again in this year’s North West in Bloom Awards after judges deemed floral displays and outstanding parks the pick of the bunch.
After what can only be described as a tough year, the council and community volunteers were back and schools involved.
“This is the first time Norden has entered and to get Gold first time is unheard of.
“It’s absolutely brilliant and we are over the moon.
“To win Best Newcomer in the North West is the the cherry on top of the cake.”
Chairman of Rochdale In Bloom, Roy Down, said: “The original plan for 2021 after all the recent restrictions, was to try and maintain our standards.
“But the fantastic effort by the volunteers and council staff have meant we surpassed this and actually increased our Gold Medal haul of previous years.
“I work with an amazing group of people.”
The full list of awards for Norden: The Friends scooping a very impressive 16 gold awards across the borough, presented by Bernard Pendleton, chairman of North West in Bloom at an awards ceremony at No 1 Riverside, Rochdale, on Thursday.
Heywood collected five of these, which included a gold medal for ‘town centre’. Heywood in Bloom group took the award for ‘large town’ and the Friends’ of Queen’s Park took gold for best ‘large park’. of Ashworth Valley - Level 5 IYN (It’s Your Neighbourhood) The Friends of Taylor Park - Level 5 IYN Norden Bowling Club - Level 5 IYN Moss Row Allotments - Level 5 IYN Friends of Norden Jubilee Park- Level 5 IYN Norden Jubilee Park - Gold Park Award Nutters Restaurant - Gold Nutters Restaurant - Best small accommodation in the North West Norden In Bloom - Best newcomer in the North West The main awards for Rochdale In Bloom: Outstanding Contribution to North West in Bloom - Councillor Billy Sheerin Denehurst Park, Rochdale (Large Park) Silver Gilt Norden Jubilee Park (Pocket Park) Gold Zen Internet (Small Industrial Park) Gold The
An extra surprise was a well-deserved overall award for ‘best feature in a public place’. The judges were impressed by the centre of Heywood, including the memorial gardens and recently upgraded space outside the Civic and Phoenix centres.
The Old Police Station and Business Centre also took gold in the ‘small commercial’ category, with gold again awarded to Heywood Distribution Park in the
Baum, Rochdale (Small Accommodation) Gold Rochdale Town Centre (Town Centre) Gold and ‘large commercial’ gory.
Other accolades included eight gold medals across Rochdale, Pennines and Norden, with Rochdale also claiming gold in the ‘town centre’ category.
The Rochdale in Bloom group were judged gold winners for the best ‘small city’, alongside Middleton in Bloom who achieved a gold medal in the same category, with more awards being announced for Middleton catebest in North West Best Mosque in Northwest - The Bilal Mosque Biodiversity Award for in the coming days. Rochdale in Bloom also achieved the ‘best town centre’ in the North West.
A new entry this year saw judges visit five Rochdale mosques for the Masjids in Bloom initiative. Supported by Rochdale Council of Mosques, the five masjids - Neeli, Central, Golden, Jalalia and Bilal were visited with the Bilal mosque taking top spot after judges were wowed by the attention to detail, environmental efforts and splash of colour.
A special trophy for outstanding contribution was presented for the very first time to Mr Asrar Ul-haq, from the Amaani Initiative.
The Bill Blackledge MBE Chairman’s Award was presented to him in recognition for his work in the local community and Masjids in Bloom. Councillor Billy Sheerin and Imran Aslam also were awarded ‘outstanding contribution to North West in Bloom’.
The Baum pub in Rochdale and Nutter’s restaurant won gold for the ‘small accommodation’ award.
Healey Dell Heritage Centre and Tea Rooms took the gold top spot for ‘small tourist attraction’ and Norden’s Jubilee Park claimed gold in the best ‘pocket park’ category again.
There were also awards for delightful displays and high levels of maintenance the North West - Stoney Hill Community Wildlife Area Best Small Industrial Park in North at Denehurst Park, taking a silver gilt award in the ‘large park’ category. Kirkholt also took a silver gilt in the ‘urban community’ award, and Stoney Hill community wildlife area took the best ‘biodiversity award’.
Zen Internet took gold for ‘best small industrial park’, and local resident Luca Higginson won the ‘young bloomer of the year’ prize.
Ray Smith, chair of Pennines in Bloom, said: We were able to cover all areas of Pennines with summer bedding this year, which have been outstanding with masses of colour to give the public a good show, cheering people up after covid pressures eased.
“The general public have responded very positively to how wonderful the areas have looked.”
Roy Down, chairman of Rochdale in Bloom, said: ‘’Despite all the setbacks during the recent pan
West - Zen Internet Best Small Accommodation in North West - Nutters Restaurant demic, our Rochdale in Bloom volunteers have stepped up once again.
“Working in partnership with the council’s environmental management service, the volunteers have not only maintained their standards from 2019, but in many cases taken them forward to an even higher standard. New initiatives like the Mosques in Bloom have really put our town on the map. I am so proud of what we have achieved.’’
Ellen Yates, chair of Heywood in Bloom, said: “After a tough lockdown, it’s been a joy to return to helping to provide lovely outdoor spaces.”
Keely O’mara, secretary and coordinator of Middleton in Bloom, said: “The community spirit has united volunteer groups, businesses, residents and the council’s environmental management department to unite as one team.”