Will the judges’ verdict be blooming brilliant?

Gardeners, volunteers, and council staff are awaiting the verdict after judges from RHS North West in Bloom and Britain in Bloom came to the borough.

The judges were taken on a tour of sites in Bury and Radcliffe to look at floral displays as well as environmental projects, examples of conservation and evidence of support from businesses and hands-on support from the community.

Bury has won a gold award and the Best Large Town prize for the last 13 years, while Radcliffe has previously won silver-gilt and gold awards over the last few years. This year, Bury represented the region in the Britain in Bloom finals for the seventh time since 2005, 2015 being the first year we won the category of Small City, also with a gold.

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, said: “Producing successful In Bloom results year on year is a fantastic achievement and clearly demonstrates what can be pulled off when council teams work in partnership with the local community.

“Thanks to volunteer groups and sponsorship and help from local businesses, including Newbank and Summerseat garden centres, the ‘In Bloom’ project is virtually cost neutral to the council.

“Whatever the official results, the quality of our environment is a credit to everyone involved.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 9 August 2017.

Picture: Outside the Fusilier museum in Gallipoli Garden are (from left) Julie Gonda, interim executive director of communities and wellbeing; Peter Turner, Bury North area supervisor, grounds maintenance; Dve 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.