Bloomin’ great – Bury wins silver gilt at national awards

Bury has done the North West proud by winning a silver gilt award in the RHS Britain in Bloom finals.

This is the seventh time that the borough has been nominated to represent the region in the national finals, and has now won two silvers, three silver gilts and two golds.

This year, Bury was also awarded a special discretionary award for overcoming adversity, following vandalism to the grass and flowers and the theft of ornamental trees outside the register office. They said: “The judges were inspired by the way Bury in Bloom has managed to tackle vandalism 'head-on' with unwavering resolve and particularly impressed by the determination of the Grounds Team to get on with the job and not be beaten.”

Other areas of achievement included the excellent range of innovative recycling initiatives and programmes being promoted and the overall range of floral feature displays incorporating wicker figures, silhouettes, vehicles and structures which make a big impact on the local environment.

Areas for development include introducing more sustainable planting and seeking ways to engage with children and young people outside the school environment.

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, said: “With communities at its heart, Bury in Bloom inspires voluntary work and co-operation between communities and this is a tremendous result for the teams, community groups, businesses, schools and volunteers who all work tirelessly to improve the environment across Bury for all to enjoy.

“Thanks to their efforts, and sponsorship from the likes of Summerseat and Newbank garden centres, our annual ‘In Bloom’ campaigns are helping to increase civic pride and boost the local economy and they’re almost cost neutral to the council.

“Everyone involved deserves huge congratulations for helping to make Bury a great place in which to live, work, study and visit.

“And I’d like to thank the council’s teams for their pride and commitment and getting on with the job, despite the difficulties they faced.”

There could be more good news for Bury and Radcliffe later this week – this year’s regional North West in Bloom award winners are announced on Friday (3 Nov).

Last year, Bury won North West in Bloom for the 13th year in a row and Radcliffe was awarded a silver gilt.

ENDS

Press release issued: 1 November 2017.

Picture: Outside the Fusilier Museum are (from left) Julie Gonda, interim executive director of communities and wellbeing; Peter Turner, Bury North area supervisor, grounds maintenance; Dave Sweeney, gardener; Cllr Rishi Shori, leader of the council; Pat Jones-Greenhalgh, interim chief executive; Mel Henley, RHS Britain in Bloom judge; Graham Schoon, countryside officer; Ruth Growney, RHS Britain in Bloom trainee judge; Michael Gunther, the mayor’s consort; the Mayor of Bury, Cllr Dorothy Gunther; Andrew Jackson, RHS Britain in Bloom judge; Julie Pitchforth, marketing and development officer; Kevin Dickinson, grounds maintenance manager; Peter Burns, senior supervisor, street cleansing; and Peter Glover, technical officer.