Bury wins top regional ‘bloom’ award for 12th year running

Bury has won ‘gold’ at the 2015 RHS North West in Bloom finals for the 12^th year in a row.

For the second year running, Bury took the Best Small City award, to add to the ten Best Large Town categories previously won.

Radcliffe won a silver-gilt in the Best Large Town section, only just missing out on what would have been a gold award for the 5^th year running.

Bury also won a discretionary award for ‘Best Feature in a Public Place’ for Gallipolli Garden in the heart of Bury Culture Quarter.

This latest success follows the national announcement last month that, for the first time, Bury had beaten off competition from around the country to win the Small City category in the RHS Britain in Bloom finals.

Councillor Tony Isherwood, cabinet member for the environment, said: “These are remarkable results and a credit to everyone involved. Awards like these are not easy to come by and to keep achieving year on year represents parks, green spaces and a street scene of the highest regional and national standards.

“Sustaining this level of achievement during such challenging times is even more impressive and results from an exceptional team effort across grounds maintenance, street cleansing, parks and countryside, response teams and highways maintenance as well as a big input from community groups, volunteers and sponsors.

“Well done everyone and thank you for your contribution to this success.”

Back in July, North West in Bloom judges Bill Blackledge, Brendan Cook and Graham Jones took the opportunity on judging day to officially award North West in Bloom’s Outstanding Contribution Award to Martin Dowding, the council’s head of grounds maintenance. The award was given last year but Martin was unable to attend the 2014 awards ceremony.

Martin said: “It is a great honour to be given this award. I’ve been on quite a journey with Bury in Bloom over the years and it’s been a pleasure to be involved from the outset. I’m really proud of what the team here in Bury has achieved.”

Anyone that would like to get involved with, or sponsor, Bury or Radcliffe in Bloom can contact the Parks and Countryside Service on 0161 253 5266 or e-mail parks.countryside@bury.gov.uk.

ENDS

Press release issued: 10 November 2015.

Photo: Martin Dowding (second left) receives his Outstanding Contribution Award from North West in Bloom judges Graham Jones, Bill Blackledge and Brendan Cook.

• More pictures are available – please contact press office.

Notes to editors

The regional and national ‘in bloom’ awards presented to BURY from 2003 to 2015 are as follows.

2003

Runner-up, Best large town, North West in Bloom

2004

Best large town in the North West

Best new landscape feature

Best Environmental Award (St Thomas School)

2005

Best Large Town, North West in Bloom

Best feature in a public place

Silver Award, Britain in Bloom

2006

Best Large Town, North West in Bloom

Best feature in a public place

2007

Best Large Town, North West in Bloom

Environmental Quality Award

Silver Award, Britain in Bloom

2008

Best large town, North West in Bloom

Clean Sweep Award

2009

Best large town, North West in Bloom

Heritage Award

Local Routes Award

Silver-Gilt Award, Britain in Bloom

2010

Best large town, North West in Bloom

Gold Award, North West in Bloom

2011

Best large town, North West in Bloom

Gold Award, North West in Bloom

Silver-Gilt Award, Britain in Bloom

RHS Floral Award, Britain in Bloom

2012

Best large town and gold award, North West in Bloom

Best town centre, North West in Bloom

The Environmental Award for local authorities, North West in Bloom

2013

Best large town and gold award, North West in Bloom

Gold Award, Britain in Bloom

Environmental Responsibility Award, Britain in Bloom

2014

Best Small City and gold award, North West in Bloom

Environmental quality Award, North West in Bloom

North West in Bloom, Outstanding Contribution went to Martin Dowding, Grounds Maintenance Manager

2015

Best Small City and gold award, North West in Bloom

Best Feature in Public Place, North West in Bloom (Gallipolli Garden)

Gold Award, Britain in Bloom

Overall category winner, Britain in Bloom.

The regional ‘in bloom’ awards presented to RADCLIFFE from 2011 to 2015 are as follows.

2011

Gold award, North West in Bloom

2012

Gold award, North West in Bloom

2013

Gold award, North West in Bloom

2014

Gold award, North West in Bloom

2015

Silver-gilt award, North West in Bloom