Wonder Wall goes for Outstanding hat-trick

Date published: 20 June 2019

The colourful Rochdale AFC Wonder Wall is going for a hat-trick of Level 5 Outstanding awards with this year’s entry into the It’s Your Neighbourhood Award of the annual North West In Bloom competition.

Over 35 volunteers of all ages helped plant the floral display on Saturday (15 June), including Rochdale In Bloom, members of the Rochdale Environmental Action Group, local residents, Rochdale AFC staff and supporters.

Roy Down, chairman of Rochdale in Bloom, said: “This year's Wonder Wall was a real success; we were lucky with the weather, blessed with really hard-working volunteers and generous sponsorship from Crown Oil and Gordon Riggs.

“The partnership with H Bell and sons is a real bonus, they turned up and really helped out. Not many firm's directors actually get hands on like they have, and their children helped too.

“Rochdale director Frances Fielding helped to co-ordinate everything as usual. We had staff from the Dale and directors wives planting.

“It really was a true community effort. We hope people enjoy the corridor of colour on Sandy Lane.”

Frances Fielding, sales and marketing director at Rochdale AFC, said: “I would like to thank the Rochdale in Bloom team, partners Crown Oil, Gordon Riggs Garden Centre and H Bell and Sons, as well as the army of volunteers who turned out to help us bring the Wonder Wall back to life on Saturday.

“It was a real team effort and the eye-catching, colourful corridor of flowers looks absolutely fantastic!

“I am extremely proud of what has been achieved, not just at the weekend, but over the last two years since the first-ever planting session took place, and the impact the Wonder Wall has had on bringing the local community together.”

The Wonder Wall is part of Rochdale in Bloom’s entry into the annual North West in Bloom competition. Now in its third year of planting, the wall is once again sponsored by Crown Oil and Gordon Riggs.

The original Wonder Wall, planted by volunteers in the summer of 2017, won two awards at the North West In Bloom competition.

Last year, the Wonder Wall feature helped Rochdale to the National Gold Award at the Britain In Bloom UK Finals.

Now a green oasis, the wall was a tired-looking structure on Sandy Lane until the Rochdale In Bloom group took it under their wing and began to plant floral features on top of the wall.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/111661/crown-oil-arena-wonder-wall-in-bloom-entry-judged

In July 2018, the Wonder Wall was dedicated to the memory of Paul Hazlehurst, a director of the club for 15 years and a huge supporter of the project.