Bamford & Norden Dec/Jan 2022

Norden in Bloom lands Gold in
Northwest in Bloom competition
The village of Norden has
landed a gold award plus the
title of best newcomer in this
year’s Northwest in Bloom
competition.
Norden in Bloom, which entered as a
stand-alone village for the very first time this
year, captivated visiting judges claiming a
‘best newcomer’ award and a gold medal for
‘large village,’ which can only mean bigger
things to come for 2022.
Thirteen sites were visited on judging day in
the summer: Owd Betts, Ashworth Valley, St
James’ Chapel, a private garden, Taylor Park,
Norden Rockery, the Norden War Memorial,
the village, Norden Bowling Club, Moss Row
Community Allotments, Moss Row Woodland,
the award-winning Norden Jubilee Park and
Nutter’s Restaurant.
The group was presented with their win by
Bernard Pendleton, chairman of Northwest
in Bloom, at a special awards ceremony at
Number One Riverside, Rochdale on Thursday
4th November.
Paul Ellison, of Norden in Bloom, said: “I’m
speechless; to come out with not only gold but
best newcomer as well for a brand-new entry
is unheard of, especially when you consider we
had Covid to contend with…
“We couldn’t have done it without the great
team we created for Norden in Bloom and
everyone working tirelessly to make this
happen. I would also like to thank our sponsors
and special recognition to our partner,
Rochdale Borough Council, which came on
board despite this being a new entry.”
Amber Pets, Rochdale Borough Council,
NEEVA (Norden Environmental and Economic
Village Association) and Firefly Security.
Judges were treated to a wonderous
wildflower display at the bowling green,
beautiful large planters at Taylor Park, lovingly
tended grounds at St James’ and the colourful
Norden Rockery, whilst the Moss Row
allotments benefited from a wildlife area and
pond with an adjacent community orchard
planted by Whittaker Moss Primary School.
Contributing to this year’s In Bloom efforts,
the Norden Environmental and Economic
Village Association (NEEVA) became the
first community group to adopt the council’s
saddle planters in Norden, which will cared for
by volunteers until the end of 2021.
Other projects discussed on judging day
included the annual Keep Britain Tidy
Great British Spring Clean which involved
approximately 50 volunteers clearing100
bags of rubbish from across Norden village,
Greenbooth, Ashworth, Birtle, Rooley Moor
and Caldershaw, as well as the problem of fly
tipping in Ashworth Valley and the installation
of five CCTV cameras throughout the valley to
help curb it as well as the trees planted during
lockdown.
This year, Norden in Bloom’s sponsors and
partners included H Bell and Sons,
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