For the second year running, Bury took the Best Small City award, to add to the ten Best Large Town categories previously won.
Radcliffe won a silver-gilt in the Best Large Town section, only just missing out on what would have been a gold award for the 5th year running.
Bury also won a discretionary award for ‘Best Feature in a Public Place’ for Gallipolli Garden in the heart of Bury Culture Quarter.
This latest success follows the national announcement last month that, for the first time, Bury had beaten off competition from around the country to win the Small City category in the RHS Britain in Bloom finals.
Councillor Tony Isherwood, cabinet member for the environment, said: “These are remarkable results and a credit to everyone involved. Awards like these are not easy to come by and to keep achieving year on year represents parks, green spaces and a street scene of the highest regional and national standards.
“Sustaining this level of achievement during such challenging times is even more impressive and results from an exceptional team effort across grounds maintenance, street cleansing, parks and countryside, response teams and highways maintenance as well as a big input from community groups, volunteers and sponsors.
“Well done everyone and thank you for your contribution to this success.”
Back in July, North West in Bloom judges Bill Blackledge, Brendan Cook and Graham Jones took the opportunity on judging day to officially award North West in Bloom’s Outstanding Contribution Award to Martin Dowding, the council’s head of grounds maintenance. The award was given last year but Martin was unable to attend the 2014 awards ceremony.
Martin said: “It is a great honour to be given this award. I’ve been on quite a journey with Bury in Bloom over the years and it’s been a pleasure to be involved from the outset. I’m really proud of what the team here in Bury has achieved.”
Anyone that would like to get involved with, or sponsor, Bury or Radcliffe in Bloom can contact the Parks and Countryside Service on 0161 253 5266 or e-mail parks.countryside@bury.gov.uk.
