DOBCROSS AND Oldham are officially bloomin’ beautiful after scooping top prizes at the Royal Horticultural Society’s prestigious North West in Bloom 2015 competition.
Dobcross was named as an outstanding winner in the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ category while Oldham won the ‘Best City’ prize for the sixth year in a row.
Judges visited in July to take in the bright displays of flowers at homes and businesses, before winners were announced at a glittering reception in Southport last month.
Paul Clegg, Dobcross Village Community’s vice-chair, attended the awards ceremony with several members of the committee.
He said: “Towards the end of the presentations with Dobcross not having been mentioned, hopes were fading. However, it transpired the best was left until last!
“Thanks go to all who helped either by tidying, clearing, putting pots outside the house or installing hanging baskets. A team effort well rewarded and richly deserved.”
Meanwhile, the borough was awarded the top prize, along with a ‘gold’ rating for their ‘Bloom and Grow’ entry – qualifying as a city based on electoral roll size.
Oldham also bagged the Best Town Centre in the North West award and the borough is now the region’s representative for Britain in Bloom 2016 in the Best City category.
Cllr Jim McMahon, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “Bloom and Grow is a team effort so to win Best City for the sixth year in a row is a truly outstanding achievement and a real honour.
“This award reflects the hard work, dedication and commitment from residents, schools, communities and businesses involved and I’d like to thank the mall for doing their bit.”
This year, the WOW bed centrepiece display in the town centre included a red phone box and an iconic Hackney cab designed by Councillor McMahon and his two sons.
A close look at the display will uncover images of the town centre’s past, present and future.
Im surprised that the Leader of the Council had the time to do a design for a garden feature in the town centre. He is obviously a man of many talents, and his sons are following in his footsteps!