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Get your green fingers working for the Borough In Bloom competition

Posted on 18/06/2010

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The hands of England goalkeeper Rob Green might be in the spotlight, but if your ‘green fingers’ are more reliable and they’ve helped make the borough bloom, then get them working for a chance to score in this year’s Borough In Bloom competition!

Whether you’re a resident, in a local community group, school or business – there are categories for everyone to enter and show off their ‘bloomin’ great’ work to expert judges.

All you need to do is select which category you’d like to enter and complete the entry form so judges from Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) can see just how you’ve helped make the borough a cleaner, greener please for people to live, work and visit.

With brand new categories added to the mix this year, including Best Gated Alleyway, Best Young Gardner for the 16 and unders, Best Allotment and Best Small Business – the competition will showcase even more horticultural marvels we have here in the Rochdale borough.

Regular categories are still rooted deep in the soil of the competition, including Best Household Garden, Best Hanging Basket or Window Box, Best Public House and Best Project by a Primary and Secondary School – so whether or not you’ve entered before – enter now and ‘give it a grow’!

Anyone can enter the Borough In Bloom competition! Whether you’re an expert gardener or a complete novice, or whether you’re 9 or 99 – this year’s Borough In Bloom competition recognises everybody’s efforts, whatever their level of horticultural experience.

Bright, colourful and vibrant places of which people can be proud wouldn’t be possible without members of the community who are passionate and committed to making their area glisten with pride through lots of colour – and this is our moment to celebrate the people, schools and businesses who help make the borough look ‘bloomin’ fantastic’!

What’s most important is whatever you’ve done, it’s made a significant contribution towards making the Rochdale borough a cleaner, greener place for people to live, work and visit.

What’s more, you can enter into as many categories as you fancy! But you’d better hurry, as the closing date for entries is Friday 2 July.

There are lots of good reasons why you should enter into one of this year’s Borough In Bloom categories:

● It’s free!

● Coverage in the local media – so your name in the paper and good publicity if you’re a school, business or community group!

● Recognition by the council and RBH as a champion for environmental improvements through horticultural excellence.

● Category winners receive a trophy or plaque, certificate and £50 voucher to redeem at Bowlee Nursery in Middleton.

● Second and third placed category entrants all get a certificate and a Bowlee Nursery voucher worth £30 and £20 respectively.

The judging criteria for each category is listed on the council’s website at www.rochdale.gov.uk/events and click on Borough In Bloom. Or you can contact Dave Woolrich at the council by calling 01706 922076 or email: dave.woolrich@rochdale.gov.uk

The judges will be inspecting entries between 12 and 19 July, and will be in touch afterwards to let you know whether you’ve been shortlisted for the Borough In Bloom awards, which take place on 5 October 2010 at Rochdale Town Hall.



Borough in Bloom 2010 Entry Form

Name ……………………………………………………………………………..…
Address……………………………………………………………………………...
Daytime Tel No:……………………………………………………………………...

Tick which category you’d like to enter (you can enter more than one!)

Categories awarded by Rochdale Borough Council

- Best household garden

- Best backyard, balcony or small patio garden

- Best hanging basket, container or window box

- NEW! Best allotment

- NEW! Best young gardener (for 16 and unders)

- Best project by a community group

- NEW! Best gated alleyway

- Best public house

- NEW! Best large business, retail or industrial park

- NEW! Best small business

- Best project by a primary school

- Best project by a secondary school


Rochdale Boroughwide Housing categories 2010

- Tenants’ Gardens – Area Class Novice Class

- Retired Persons’ Class The Balcony Class

- Communal Areas Championship Class

- Leaseholders’ Garden Class Leaseholders’ Balcony Class

Entry forms should be sent no later than 2 July to Dave Woolrich, Rochdale Borough Council, Environmental Management, Green Lane, Heywood, OL10 2DY. Or, you can hand it into your nearest council customer service centre or library. See above for further contact information.

Judging will take place between 12 and 19 July – weather permitting. 

Full event details and downloadable Entry Forms are on the council’s website at www.rochdale.gov.uk/events, just click on Borough In Bloom.