It’s flower power!

Town Centre play area opening by Cllr Jim McMahon with with (l-r) Millie, Freya Reed (4),Billy Yasin(6),Scarlett Moore(5) and Ollie.

RAIN failed to dampen the spirits of residents who had come to Oldham town centre for the annual flower festival.

The town centre was blooming on Saturday, with the colourful display contrasting against the grey clouds above.

This year the horticultural extravaganza was bigger, with the opening of a new permanent play area for children on the Market Place area of the High Street.

There were planting lessons for budding gardeners and the chance to climb, swing and slide at the newly-installed play space. It stands next to the traditional centrepiece WOW bed, which boasts giant balls of wool representing everything that knits our communities together to make Oldham a better place for residents and visitors.

Carl Hatch (32), who brought his children, said: “It’s brilliant. It makes a change from not being able to anything with the kids. It makes a big difference.”

The stunning flower display has been created for Oldham’s bid to win “Best City” in the Royal Horticultural Society’s prestigious North West in Bloom competition. Celebrity gardener Joe Swift – presenter of BBC Gardener’s World and the Chelsea Flower Show – returned for the festival and took part in a question and answer session for green-fingered residents.
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