FROM container displays to gardens large and small, there were colourful and creative entries of all kinds in this year’s Saddleworth in Bloom competition.
Homes and pubs across the area put on their best shows for the judges, who visited every garden on the final day despite damp weather.
Saddleworth Parish Council chairman Cllr Pam Byrne was unable to attend but was represented by council colleagues, horticulturalist Nick Atkinson, and Cllr Dan Costello who came on a Civic visit from Tameside.
Nick, who is a Horticulture/Landscape Tutor at Oldham College, said: “It was a very busy day to get around all the garden entries and we wish we could have spent longer talking to the keen and proud gardeners in each category.
“The community gardens were inspiring and a standout for myself was the old Saddleworth Railway Station entry with the attention to detail. Also the Old Bell Pub with the Koi Carp pound and large hanging baskets.
“Credit to all the gardens whether small or large!”
The awards and certificates were presented by Cllr Byrne at a ceremony at the Civic Hall in Uppermill.
Saddleworth In Bloom 2022 – Results
Small Garden
WINNER – Jean Phillips, Mildred Avenue, Grotton
HIGHLY COMMENDED – Karen Kilgannon, Lee Street, Uppermill; Steve Kendra, Fold Cottages, Dobcross; Marie Kostecky, Outram Mews, Uppermill
COMMENDED – Deborah Odoho, Riverside House, Uppermill; Kevin Lord, Outram Mews, Uppermill; David Lewis, Kinders Crescent, Greenfield; Bernice Wall, Lyndon Close, Scouthead; Christine Fish, Kinders Crescent, Greenfield
Medium Garden
WINNER – George Mackey, Springmeadow Lane, Uppermill
HIGHLY COMMENDED – Dr and Mrs O’Daly, Church Road, Uppermill; Fiona and Simon Turner, Queensway, Greenfield
COMMENDED – Rose Tilley, Wellington Road, Greenfield; Janet Baker, Nudger Close, Dobcross
Large Garden
WINNER – Michael Lord, Wool Road, Dobcross
HIGHLY COMMENDED – Susan Hopwood, off Platting Road, Lydgate
Container Garden
WINNER – Ann Smith, Platt Lane, Dobcross
HIGHLY COMMENDED – Christine Fish, Kinders Crescent, Greenfield; Diane Hamilton, Outram Mews, Uppermill
Community Garden
WINNER – Sue Clarke and Sue McNamara, Belmont Avenue, Springhead
HIGHLY COMMENDED – Christine Sherington, Old Mill House, Grotton; Jean Phillips, The Parish Centre Yard, Uppermill
Best Blooming Pub
WINNER – The Old Bell, Huddersfield, Road Delph
HIGHLY COMMENDED – The Three Crowns, Huddersfield Road, Scouthead
I often enjoy the gardens in and around Saddleworth, (and elsewhere as well,) and these Gardens Competitions always used to be huge fun for everyone, so It’s good to see people like Cllrs Woodvine Costello and others getting actively involved.
Elsewhere in Oldham however the annual FCHO Gardens Competition; Growing Together, Budding Neighborhoods or whatever daft name they’re calling it this week has pretty much been run into the ground, (pun intended,) and so improved and reinvented, out of all recognition that it has now been reduced to little more than a lottery and all the fun has pretty much gone out of it to the point where no one much cares about it anymore.
So well done Saddleworth.