Congleton in Bloom came home clutching a hoard of accolades following the town’s most successful couple of days ever at the North West in Bloom Awards, held in Southport.
Congleton gained 12 awards, 10 of which were at the highly coveted Gold or Outstanding top level. The main town entry for Congleton in Bloom received Gold for the 7th successive year, this led to Congleton being chosen to represent the North West’s towns in the Britain in Bloom national finals in 2018.
Chairman of Congleton In Bloom, Councillor David Brown, who attended the awards ceremony said: “This is a fantastic result for Congleton. So many people have worked hard to make the town look great. We were confident that we were at gold standard, but to win the group outright and be judged good enough to go back into the national competition is a massive honour. There are too many people to thank individually, but to all those who contributed, thank you so much for part you played in helping Congleton gain these prestigious awards. Absolutely FANTASTIC! This is great for the town!”
All three Blooming Businesses were awarded GOLD standard at the awards on Friday 3rd November; Alexandra Court Hotel, Astbury Mere Care Home and The Queens Head Public House. Astbury Mere Care Home was also winner to the Community Housing Award in the North West.
There was also success at the North West in Bloom ‘It’s your Neighbourhood’ Ceremony Awards on the previous day when Astbury Mere Country Park, Congleton Bath House & Physic Garden, Friends of Congleton Park, Heath View Care Home, Hilary Avenue Allotments and the New Life Church Jubilee Club were awarded the highest level award- Level Five- Outstanding, Buglawton in Bloom closely behind with Level Four- Thriving and Bromley Farm with Level Three- Advancing. All the hard work of the Neighbourhoods paid off, with the best results yet!
Although the group has not yet received the detailed marking sheet, they know that the judges were impressed with the improvement in Congleton Park, Antrobus Street Gardens and Moody Street Gardens and with the continual high standard of Congleton Community Gardens and Congleton’s troughs and baskets. This is the 7th consecutive year that Congleton has achieved gold in this prestigious competition and the fourth time in five years that Congleton has won the Best Large Town in the North West.
The In Bloom group has arranged a celebration event in the Town Hall at 6pm on Wednesday 15th November to thank the various groups, organisations and individuals who helped with the campaign. Congleton In Bloom will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year and the group is also looking for more people to get involved and help with next year’s national and regional campaign.
North West in Bloom was established in 1964 and is open to all communities that have demonstrated their ability to create and maintain attractive environments that benefit residents and visitors. The aim of the competition is to encourage the improvement of surroundings through the imaginative use of trees, shrubs, flowers and landscaping. It also aims to achieve a litter free and sustainable environment and links to the Royal Horticultural Society’s three key themes of Horticultural excellence, community involvement and environmental friendliness.
