Blooming marvels reap their rewards ...
THE Royal Horticultural Society North West in Bloom Awards took place last week, at Southport Theatre and Convention Centre, with Southport winning Gold Overall alongside a number of neighbourhood awards.
Following their success in the Britain in Bloom awards, Southport has managed to win another Gold and has been crowned as the best in the North West overall.
They received flourishing results in the It’s Your Neighbourhood Awards on Thursday, October 27, and carried on their winning streak the following day, for North West in Bloom overall villages, cities and towns.
Ainsdale in Bloom bagged a Silver Gilt in the Best Town category and Barford House gardens, owned by Pauline Morris, won Best Small Accommodation.
Those who won the awards in Thursday’s Neighbourhood category included Rotten Row with an Outstanding achievement and Best Overall Entry in the North West, Botanic Gardens received Outstanding with a certificate of Distinction, Ainsdale Village Church Community gardens received Outstanding in their own right and Lord Street received Outstanding in Bloom.
King’s Gardens, Birkdale Village station and EDDA Community Library, in Ainsdale, won Thriving, which is one below the highest mark that can be achieved.
Secretary of Southport in Bloom, Brenda Porter, said: “They went really well; they were exceptional. It was a great evening and everybody did really well.
“We all support one another – Waterloo and Crosby got a Silver Gilt as well. The main thing we do it for as a community group is to enhance the area, it just makes life a bit more pleasant and the fact that you get an award on top of it is a bonus!
“We’ve got people from all different organisations who are all a part of it.”
A number of local organisations support Southport and Ainsdale in Bloom including businesses, the Civil Horticultural Society, schools and the railway stations.
Judges visited the Southport and Ainsdale gardens on July 12 and 13 this year.
The key themes that Britain in Bloom is marked on are horticultural excellence, environmental friendliness and community involvement which Southport stood out for in the Britain in Bloom Awards that took place last month.
Brenda says the Ainsdale team are already preparing and planting for next season in time for next year’s presentation awards.