Blooming marvels

A TEAM of gardeners who bring a little pleasure into the daily life of a local dog-walker have been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.

The flower-filled conservatory in Alexandra Park provides a haven for Norah Baxendale, who pops in five times a week to escape the hustle and bustle of life.

She said: “It’s always a joy. The flowers are always seasonal and in pristine condition in a climate which makes you feel you are in a tropical rain forest.”

Complete with classical background music, birdsong and benches, she said it is the perfect place to “sit and meditate and watch the world go by”.

Graeme Gibson, horticultural services supervisor, heads the team who between them work seven-days a week to keep the conservatory in tip-tip condition.

Delighted that their efforts were bringing pleasure, he said: “That’s what it’s all about — trying to make sure people feel comfortable, relaxed and safe.”

The conservatory has to be locked and unlocked, music changed and plants checked for watering every day of the week.

And the tasks fall to gardeners Ruth Seville, Andrea Blackman, Gary Short and Andrew Wakeman, with Andrew Marsland in charge of the flowerbeds outside the conservatory.

Interesting

Ruth said: “We always try to make it look interesting by changing the plants and using seasonal ones, such as poinsettias at Christmas and spring bulbs at Easter.

“One of us goes into the conservatory every day, and we give it a regular complete clean.
“We enjoy doing it, especially when it’s all been done and it looks different.”