Gardening greats’ efforts pay off with host of awards
SOUTHPORT has won the Large Coastal Resort Gold medal in this year’s North West In Bloom awards, while Ainsdale has won Town Gold and the Preston Silver Dish.
Best Newcomer Award went to the brilliant volunteers at Queenscourt Hospice while there were also awards for the Botanic Gardens in Churchtown, EDDA in Ainsdale and others.
Community champions Brenda and Ken Porter won the Chairman’s Award in Memory of Bill Blackledge MBE for their incredible work in Ainsdale over the years.
The Botanic Gardens Community Association in Churchtown won the Keiron Moss Award for the Best Bedding plant display. They were among community groups across Sefton which have once again been celebrated for their green-fingered expertise in the 2023 North West In Bloom awards.
The North West In Bloom judges visited various locations across the borough to see for themselves the fantastic work volunteer groups have been doing.
Categories they considered include community involved and environmental quality, looking at litter and highway presentation.
Sefton’s gardening enthusiasts have once again showcased their skills by maintaining flower beds, supporting community initiatives, and creating wonderful displays.
The awards also recognise all the hard work volunteers do to keep gardens, streets, alleyways, and greenspaces looking clean, green and beautiful.
So much so that community groups from all over Sefton have been recognised with a whole host of awards from the In Your Neighbourhood category.
From The Poulsom Memorial Garden at Derby Park, Bootle to the Botanic Gardens Community Association, Churchtown and Maghull Station Volunteers, the EDDA community arts and library in Ainsdale and the Paul Weston Garden in Crosby.
A best newcomer award went to Queenscourt Hospice in Southport.
Special recognition was also awarded to Sefton’s In Bloom entrants: Ainsdale in Bloom: BIB Core Town Gold and the Preston Silver Dish; Southport in Bloom: BIB Core Large Coastal Resort Gold; Crosby and Waterloo in
Bloom: BIB Core Small Coastal Resort Gold; Bootle In Bloom BIB: Core Urban Community Gold.
Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “The Green Sefton team has been absolutely bowled over by the determination and commitment of our greenfingered community groups and volunteers, taking home over 50 awards this year!
“Not only do their continued efforts help to make our Sefton greener, but they also help to bring communities together making them stronger and happier.
“Having passionate gardeners across our Borough looking after our valued green spaces has really enhanced our time spent outdoors.
“The scale of dedication in North-West In Bloom is always very high, so these awards are testimony to the hard work of our brilliant volunteers – congratulations to them all.
“The many groups and individuals who won In Your Neighbourhood awards further reflect the hard work that is put into numerous parks, gardens and open spaces in the community.”
North West in Bloom is the voluntary regional organisation that administers the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Britain in Bloom competition in Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, and is one of the 18 regions and Nations that comprise Britain in Bloom.
Sefton Council’s Green Sefton Service – who help co-ordinate North West in Bloom within the borough – are encouraging people interested to get involved by emailing greensefton@ sefton.gov.uk.
For more information on taking a more active role in community gardening the RHS has lots of helpful resources, simply visit: https://www.rhs. org.uk/get-involved/ community-gardening.