​I now pronounce you – wicker man and wife!

A wedding with a difference has just taken place outside Bury Register Office.

The ‘married couple’ are made of wicker, and are part of this year’s Bury in Bloom celebrations.

Bury has won North West Britain in Bloom’s Best Small City category for the last 14 years, and Radcliffe has won a silver-gilt award in the Best Large Town category for three years running. Bury also won a silver gilt at the national Britain in Bloom finals last year.

These wicker sculptures were designed by local artist Cherry Chung, and built by Hopefield Fab Ltd. They are also behind the creation of the new stretcher bearer sculpture in Gallipoli Garden, outside the Fusilier Museum.

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, said: “Having a high quality environment is important to everyone, and our ‘in bloom’ campaigns help bring a dash of colour to the borough. I’m sure our new wicker bride and groom will be hugely popular, and many real couples who get married at our register office will enjoy having their pictures taken with them.

“Bury in Bloom is a long-standing successful campaign resulting from a fantastic community effort - the workforce, community groups, volunteers, schools and local businesses who cover the costs through sponsorship.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 18 July 2018.

Picture: Haydn Keenan, superintendent registrar of births, deaths and marriages, with the wicker bride and groom.