Festival marks Swift return for TV’s Joe

FRESH from his appearance in Oldham last year, celebrity gardener Joe Swift is headlining the town centre’s flower festival on Saturday.

The BBC’s “Gardeners’ World” presenter will be answering horticultural questions in the High Street from noon and 2pm.

Flower Festival 2011 runs from 11am to 3pm and visitors can also catch flower-arranging demonstrations by council staff, with the chance to win their creations.

Other giveaways and prizes will be on offer throughout the day.

The event has been organised by Oldham Business Improvement District (BID) in conjunction with the council. The private sector-led project invests in projects to attract people to the town centre such as events and marketing, floral displays and security measures.

BID chairman Paul Hughes, owner of Zutti Co on Yorkshire Street, said: “The flower festival is a great addition to the town centre over the summer.

“It creates a real feel-good factor among visitors as well as businesses.

“Everywhere you look there are floral displays and they help put smiles on people’s faces.”

The festival is part of the borough’s North-West in Bloom entry which includes the past, present and future-themed garden in Market Place.

Oldham is hoping to retain the prestigious Best City title it won last year.

Councillor Jean Stretton, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “The floral displays in the town centre look fantastic, as they do every year, so I would encourage residents to come along, have a look and join in the fun.

“I would also like to thank BID for their continued support as they are an important partner in our drive to make the town centre a safer, cleaner and greener place.”