Green fingered borough turns gold at North West in Bloom awards

The borough of Rochdale scooped an outstanding haul of gold medals at the recent North West in Bloom awards, showing that this green-fingered area is a force to be reckoned with.

Flying high on the recent success of Rochdale Town Centre scooping a prestigious gold award in the Royal Horticultural Society’s 60th annual Britain in Bloom competition, local groups came together to celebrate their achievements in Bolton on 31 October.

The awards came thick and fast, starting with a surprise award for best new landscape, given to Rochdale Town Centre. This award includes the grounds around Rochdale Town Hall and the floral displays throughout the Baillie Street Quarter.

This award was achieved through collaborative work with local community groups, businesses and Rochdale Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID).

Rochdale also took gold for ‘town centre’ and ‘small city’. Denehurst Park won gold for the third year in the ‘large parks’ category, thanks to council teams and a strong working partnership with the friends of Denehurst Park volunteers.

In the 'urban community' category, Spotland & Falinge earned a silver gilt award, which they also achieved in the Britain in Bloom national awards.

Castleton in Bloom and Healey, Syke and Shawclough took silver in the same category. Kirkholt and Balderstone came out on top with a gold.

Golden Mosque Rochdale held onto the Best Mosque award again after volunteers continued to make the mosque exemplary with their floral displays.

Norden in Bloom achieved gold in the ‘town’ category moving up from large village.

The ever-popular Jubilee Park in Norden won yet another gold in the ‘pocket park’ category, with Birtle Brook Village and the Pavilion each receiving a gold winning the accolade of best in their respective categories, ‘large accommodation’ and small retail/commercial/industrial park.

Norden in Bloom volunteer Christine McHugh received a special recognition, winning the ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award.

Heywood gained more golds as the much-loved Queen’s Park secured gold again in the ‘large parks’ category thanks to dedicated council staff and the hands-on Heywood in Bloom group, with Hopwood Park taking gold in ‘small parks’.

Heywood retained gold in the ‘town centre’ and ‘large town’ category. Another accolade for Heywood included a gold award once again for ‘Best Retail Park', for Heywood Distribution Centre. 

The awards didn’t stop there as in the Pennines, Hollingworth Lake and Watergrove Reservoir were awarded gold for best ‘large tourist attraction’, with Healey Dell tea rooms also keeping their gold winning streak for ‘small tourist attraction’.  Hare Hill Park was another gold winner in the ‘small parks’ category and Pennines in Bloom took gold for Wardle village.

Littleborough won another gold in the ‘large town’ category.

In Middleton, the gold awards kept coming for Middleton in Bloom as the town was a worthy gold winner in ‘best small city’ and ‘town centre’.

Jubilee Park took gold in the ‘small parks’ category - home to the beautiful monumental staircase and exedra, built in 1906 by Edgar Wood. The park has complimentary landscaping and is supported by a hands-on friends group who take great pride in their local park.

It was also officially announced that Middleton will be representing the borough in the 2025 Britain in Bloom Awards in the national Town Centre category.

Councillor Tricia Ayrton, deputy leader and portfolio holder for climate change and environment, said:  “What an accolade to be recognised as one of the best in the North West, which tops off receiving a gold award in the national Britain in Bloom awards.

“Our grounds team works hard all year round alongside the many volunteer groups, schools and businesses and through working so well together shows in the number and calibre of awards our borough has received.”

Roy Down, chair of Rochdale in Bloom and a judge took the Chairman’s Lifetime Achievement award for his in-depth knowledge and the hard work he has dedicated to putting Rochdale on the map. He said: “It was quite overwhelming but an honour to receive the Chairman’s award. I have been involved with Rochdale in Bloom for more than 20 years and this award is dedicated to everyone who I have had the pleasure to work alongside.  By working together we can make such a difference to Rochdale and the wider borough.

“A huge congratulations to our friends in Middleton, Heywood and Pennines as co-operative working is the way forward and while cinching so many awards is amazing, our partnership is the greatest gift as we continue to showcase our work to the UK and we’re growing!” 

If you would like to volunteer, you can find out more here: www.rochdale.gov.uk/jobs/green-volunteers