Heywood in Bloom

Britain In Bloom

 

More than flowers

When people hear “In Bloom”, they often think of hanging baskets, flower beds and colourful displays.

They are certainly part of it, but In Bloom is about much more.

The programme brings communities together to improve the places where they live and work through community engagement, horticulture, floriculture and craft, helping them to improve their area and protect their environment. This can mean planting and wildlife projects, improving neglected spaces, working with schools, supporting community gardens, encouraging businesses to improve their surroundings and bringing people together to take pride in their community.

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RHS Britain in Bloom

Britain in Bloom is the nationwide community gardening campaign supported by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

Communities of all sizes take part, bringing together volunteers, councils, businesses, schools and community organisations to make lasting improvements to their local environment.

Taking part isn't simply about winning an award. It provides an opportunity to celebrate what a community is achieving, receive constructive feedback and become part of a much wider movement working to improve places across the country.

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North West in Bloom

Britain in Bloom is organised through regional campaigns. North West in Bloom covers Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.

It provides different ways for communities, places and organisations to participate, including the main In Bloom competition and categories for particular types of places and organisations.

North West in Bloom coordinates entries, assessments and awards across our region, with assessors visiting participating communities during the summer to see what has been achieved and provide constructive feedback.

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It's Your Neighbourhood

Not every community project needs to enter the main In Bloom competition.

It's Your Neighbourhood (IYN) is the non-competitive part of the campaign designed for small volunteer groups that are improving a particular local area. It is free to enter.

This makes it particularly suitable for locally led projects such as community gardens and neighbourhood projects. It gives groups an opportunity to have their work recognised and receive useful feedback as their project develops.

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Who gets involved?

In Bloom works because different parts of a community work together.

That can include residents and volunteers, community groups and associations, schools, businesses, churches and faith groups, housing providers, local authorities and many other organisations.

Some look after their own gardens or projects. Others provide volunteers, premises, materials, equipment, expertise or financial support.

There is no single way to contribute. Each contribution becomes part of the wider community effort.

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It's not just about gardening skills

You don't have to know your petunias from your polyanthus to make a valuable contribution to In Bloom.

Creating and maintaining community spaces needs all sorts of skills. Carpenters can build planters and raised beds. Bricklayers and builders can help with walls, paths and structures. Painters and decorators can restore tired features. People who are good at organising events can bring communities together, while photographers, designers and people with social-media skills can help tell the story of what is being achieved.

There are opportunities for people who can repair things, move things, make things, organise things, raise money, complete paperwork—or simply turn up and lend a hand.

Gardening may be at the heart of In Bloom, but it takes many different skills to help a community bloom.

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Heywood in Bloom

Heywood in Bloom brings all of this together at a local level.

We work across Heywood with volunteers, community groups, businesses, schools, organisations and Rochdale Council to improve our town and encourage others to get involved.

Our volunteers maintain planting and displays around Heywood, grow plants at our Community Allotment, support community projects and help develop new ideas.

But Heywood in Bloom isn't only about the work our own volunteers do.

An important part of our role is bringing together and celebrating the work already being done by people and organisations throughout the town. Each year, North West in Bloom gives us an opportunity to showcase that collective effort.

We also encourage and support local gardens and projects that could take part in their own right, whether through It's Your Neighbourhood or another appropriate In Bloom route.

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One town, many projects

A community garden, a business improving its grounds, a school growing with its pupils, neighbours transforming an alleyway, or volunteers caring for a small corner of Heywood can all contribute to making our town a better place.

They don't all have to do the same thing, and they don't all take part in In Bloom in the same way.

Heywood in Bloom helps connect those individual efforts so that, together, they tell the story of a town that cares about where it lives.

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Want to be part of it?

There are several ways to become involved.

You can volunteer with Heywood in Bloom, bring us an idea and seed a new project, or, if you already have a garden or project, grow with us and become part of our wider network.

Businesses and organisations can also support the campaign through expertise, materials, equipment, sponsorship or practical help.

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Different people with different skills keeping
Heywood in Bloom.

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