Altrincham secured a prestigious Silver Gilt in the national finals of the RHS Britain In Bloom competition this weekend.
Representing the North West, voluntary group Altrincham In Bloom received the award – which is above Silver and just below Gold – in the Large Towns category.
Sarah Walmsley, Bev Robinson and Rita Williams travelled to Llandudno for the awards ceremony, accompanied by the Mayor of Trafford, Councillor Jonathan Coupe, and Trafford Council’s Head of Environmental Services, Tara Dumas.
Judges were impressed with the group’s enthusiasm and the firm foundations they have laid for the future, describing the Four Seasons Walkway as “outstanding” and the Shaw’s Green ‘Food For Thought’ project “exceptional”.
Sarah Walmsley, chairman of Altrincham In Bloom, said: “We were all delighted with the result, particularly as this was our first outing at the national finals and we are Trafford’s first Bloom group to reach this level.
“We are within a whisker of Gold and are determined to get there if nominated again on November 3rd. The road to Gold depends largely on the funding we can raise by February.
“However, other issues will be more logistically challenging like how to encourage building owners to remove their rooftop weeds. We are determined to keep up momentum and are calling on members of the public and the business community to actively support us.”
This week, Altrincham In Bloom launches a ‘Friends of Altrincham In Bloom’ scheme to raise £5 a year from public supporters. They are also selling £32 tickets for a Community Support Dinner at Altrincham’s Con Club restaurant on November 14th.
Tickets and membership of the ‘Friends’ scheme can be obtained by emailing info@altrinchaminbloom.org.uk. A corporate sponsorship scheme will follow in November and the group’s new website has gone live.
