TV gardener crowns a blooming good year

A CELEBRITY gardener is paying a visit to Oldham to help celebrate the borough’s success at North-West in Bloom.

Oldham’s Bloom and Grow campaign scooped the Best City award (the category was based on population) seeing off stiff competition from Chester and Preston.

Joe Swift, who presents BBC show “Gardeners World”, will present prizes will present prizes to green-fingered residents who entered the Best Private Garden competition at the Queen Elizabeth Hall tomorrow from 6pm.

The new contest, which will now become an annual event, is an expanded version of the gardens and allotments competitions which have been run by the council and later First Choice Homes since 1938.

Joe agreed to boost local interest in gardening by writing a weekly blog at the Visit Oldham website.

Deputy council leader Jackie Stanton said: “It seems a very fitting way to close this year’s ‘Bloom and Grow’ campaign by recognising the grassroots involvement — the efforts of those local residents whose hard work helped us achieve such a fantastic result.

“Our work to promote civic pride depends upon participation within communities at all levels and in that regard it was excellent to have Joe Swift’s passion, profile and input.”