Blooming work to be recognised by council

THOMAS Adamson and Doreen Tetlow, winner of 2016 Oldham Council's Best Private Garden competition

GREEN-FINGERED residents and gifted gardeners can get involved with National Gardening Week and help Oldham's Bloom and Grow campaign this week.

Taking place until Sunday, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) event aims to help new gardeners grow plants and spruce up their green spaces with a variety of events and advice available.

The annual celebration, which launched six years ago, offers residents the chance to attend an RHS event, throw a garden party or help tidy up the local area.

Oldhamers are also being encouraged to get out in their own gardens and get it ready for this year's Oldham Council Private Garden Competition.

The council is looking for beautiful gardens, big or small, for the competition, with residents asked to take two pictures of their garden and upload them online or on the council's Facebook page.

The winner will receive £150, with second and third place gaining £100 and £50 respectively and the winning garden will be featured in the borough-wide magazine Borough Life.

The prize will be presented at an awards evening with Oldham's dignitaries in November 7.

The competition launches on Friday, May 12 and the deadline to enter a garden is Friday, July 7.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Cooperatives, said: "National Gardening Week is a perfect time for residents to get out in the garden with the family and spruce up their green spaces.

"I encourage everyone to get involved with our private garden competition and have some fun.

"In previous year's Oldham's residents have really shown how great they are at sprucing up their gardens and providing the borough with stunning green spaces

"We're looking for the most beautiful gardens in the borough and your garden could be crowed "best in the borough", which is quite an accolade.

"Gardens filled with flowers and plants not only improve the look of the town and your garden, they also help nature to thrive."

Thomas Adamson, who won last year's "best in the borough" garden award is also encouraging people to get involved.

Mr Adamson, of Grasscroft, said: "When I found out I'd won I couldn't believe it - I never thought I'd win. It really was a great feeling knowing that all my hard work had been recognised.

"Attending the awards evening and receiving the prize money was a bonus as well."

To enter the "private garden" competition visit www.oldham.gov.uk/bloomandgrow or post them to Facebook.com/loveoldham page with your name.

The council also runs other competitions for residents as part of Bloom and Grow, including best young photographer, best blooming business and best blooming pub or restaurant.

To find out more visit www.oldham.gov.uk/bloomandgrow