Pots of prizes for army of green workers

PEOPLE who helped to make Fitton Hill blooming marvellous will be honoured by the Mayor of Oldham.

The estate won a silver medal in the Urban Community category in this year’s North-West in Bloom awards.

It is the fourth year that Villages Housing Association, which manages the estate, has entered the Royal Horticultural Society competition.

Different projects on the estate also won honours in the It’s Your Neighbourhood category, which showcases community entries.

Wildbrook Community Allotments and New Bridge learning centre both scooped the highest possible Outstanding Award.

A Thriving Award went to Holy Rosary Church garden, which local pupils and the congregation have transformed.

Fitton Hill Tenant Forum and Skills Swap Shop won a Developing Award, while Improving Awards went to Alex Carter Memorial Garden and McKie Close, McDonough Close and Walters Drive.

People who worked on the projects will be presented with certificates by Mayor of Oldham Councillor Ateeque Ur-Rehman at a celebration at New Bridge learning centre on Friday.

Lisa Fowles, community development officer at Villages, said: “I am immensely proud of what we’ve achieved this year, which is the result of lots of hard work by staff working in partnership with Oldham Council, New Bridge Learning Centre, Wildbrook Community Allotments and the Fitton Hill community.”