North West Britain in Bloom competition cancelled

There will be no North West Britain in Bloom competition this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In an email to entrants, the RHS team confirmed that both the North West Britain in Bloom and It’s Your Neighbourhood competitions have been suspended this year.

Anyone who has sent in an application form for It’s Your Neighbourhood will be entered into next year’s contest, whilst those who have entered the North West arm can either be reimbursed for their entry fee, or carried forward to next year’s contest.

In a statement, the RHS said: "Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this year’s RHS Britain in Bloom UK finals competition will not be going ahead. This is a worldwide and unprecedented challenging time for so many people and of course the health and safety of communities, volunteers and judges remains our number one priority. 

"With the government advising everyone to follow social distancing measures, it is sadly not currently possible for finalists to carry out their usual community gardening activities. 

"Communities put huge year-round effort into Britain in Bloom to the benefit of both people and the environment and we know our 70 finalists will be very disappointed. The decision has not been taken lightly and we hope that many groups will want to participate again in 2021.  

"We thank those involved for all the hard work they’ve put in so far to make the UK a cleaner, greener and more beautiful place, and their amazing community spirit that will be very important to people in the difficult times ahead."

Last year, the local township groups – Rochdale, Heywood, Middleton and Pennines – all scooped gold awards for their impressive horticultural displays.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/131102/blooming-marvellous-as-all-four-townships-in-the-borough-scoop-gold-awards

Rochdale was judged to be the best ‘small city’ and winner of the overall North West in Bloom trophy, whilst Heywood won a school’s award for St Luke’s Primary and a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) medal for Hopwood Park.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/131072/rochdale-in-bloom-overall-category-winner-of-large-town-small-city-at-rhs-north-west-in-bloom-awards
• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/131095/heywood-in-bloom-golden-sweep-at-prestigious-rhs-north-west-in-bloom-awards

Jubilee Park in Middleton was judged to be the best large park, and top tourist destination Hollingworth Lake in the Pennines township triumphed in the coveted best large tourist destination category.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/131073/middleton-in-bloom-golden-sweep-of-awards-at-prestigious-horticulture-awards
• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/131101/pennines-in-bloom-golden-success-at-prestigious-horticulture-awards

The judges were also dazzled by the Flying Horse Pub in Rochdale, which won the best small accommodation award, Springhill Hospice which scooped the best hospice grounds gong and Norden’s Jubilee Park which claimed gold in the best ‘pocket park’ category.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/131015/rochdale-in-bloom-norden-jubilee-park-rated-outstanding-for-fourth-year

Britain in Bloom groups with queries can contact the RHS at:

• communities@rhs.org.uk