Community gets behind Radcliffe in bloom

Date published: 02 July 2010

Radcliffe in Bloom is now in full swing with the whole community helping to put civic pride back into the town.

Council workers, residents, schools, businesses and community groups are all working together to give Radcliffe a colourful boost.

An array of hanging baskets and flowerbeds, two floral feature displays, a new rockery and a number of new or spruced-up permanent landscaping schemes are all now in place and brightening-up the town.

At Radcliffe Piazza a feature display involving a traditional market barrow is on show and along Pilkington Way (near to the entrance to Asda) a tribute to Radcliffe-born snooker legend John Spencer, is being created – look out for some oversized snooker balls made out of flowers!

Radcliffe will be now be judged by North West in Bloom in the “small town” category on the same day that Bury town centre is judged in the “large town” category, on Wednesday July 28.

Councillor Dorothy Gunther, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “I am delighted that the community in Radcliffe is coming together and working alongside us to make Radcliffe a brighter place. With regeneration of the local environment right at the heart of any ‘in bloom’ campaign there couldn’t be a better time for the return of Radcliffe in Bloom.

“Coupled with what has already been achieved over the last three years - the recent re-opening of Blackburn Street and other emerging regeneration plans - Radcliffe is getting a real boost and I am very proud of what is being achieved. I would like to re-assure everyone in Radcliffe that the town is very much at the top of our plans and will continue to be so.”

Examples of community involvement in Radcliffe in Bloom include: 

• The Rotary Club helping to keep Festival Gardens clean and tidy by carrying out regular litter picks
• The Townswomen’s Guild helping to maintain the planters at the Piazza
• The Friends of Close Park maintaining a new landscaped area at Church Green and helping to keep the park tidy and litter-free
• The Co-Operative Funeral Service sprucing-up the area around the “nails” sculpture and sponsoring a flower bed at the side of the Colliers Arms
• Radcliffe Traders Association promoting the take-up among local businesses of sponsored hanging baskets
• Groundwork Bury will be getting stuck in to improve a site at Church Street West

Neil Long, assistant director of leisure services, said: “A strong team effort is making a real difference to the overall quality and appearance of Radcliffe. As well as a motivated workforce, the community of Radcliffe is really getting behind and into the spirit of the ‘in-bloom’ campaign.

“This isn’t about winning an award but everyone doing their bit to bring about positive changes at a low cost. On judging day the judges will get the opportunity meet both council workers and volunteers to see how everyone is pulling together to develop pride in Radcliffe.”

Any resident, community group, school or business that would like to take an active role in Radcliffe in Bloom should contact Julie Pitchforth at Bury Council on 0161 253 5266 or e-mail parks.countryside@bury.gov.uk