Pupils plant first seeds of success

GREEN-FINGERED wizards helped to arrange grand floral displays bursting with civic pride in preparation for this year’s North-West in Bloom competition.

The council is entering the regional contest for the first time since 2003 and hopes the local bid — ‘ Bloom And Grow — will flourish with the help of residents.

On Friday, pupils from Blue Coat school, who visited Alexandra Park earlier this year to pot up plants, decorated the town centre with its first Bloom And Grow splash of colour, helped by deputy council leader Jackie Stanton.

And the town centre went green on Saturday when Bloom And Grow was officially launched with a day of events.

As part of plans designed to make neighbouring towns green with envy, there are also initiatives to encourage widespread community participation, including the establishment of a Bloom And Grow shop at the Market Hall on Curzon Street, where expert advice will be on hand.

Central to the campaign is the first-ever borough-wide residents’ garden competition which gives green-fingered Oldhamers the chance to win merit certificates and cash prizes up to £150.

Councillor Stanton said: “Community participation will be absolutely vital to Bloom And Grow and it doesn’t matter if you don’t know your pansies from your petunias — everyone can get involved.

“By holding the first-ever borough-wide residents’ garden competition we hope to encourage lots of community interest, fun and some eye-catching projects.”

North-West in Bloom judges will visit Oldham in late July and mark the borough against five criteria: floral displays, permanent landscaping, conservation and recycling, local environmental quality and public awareness.

To find out more about how you can make a positive improvement to your area, visit the Bloom And Grow shop.

Anyone wanting to take part in the garden competition can obtain entry forms from the shop and local libraries, or by calling 0161 770 4056.