Voluntary organisation, Chorley in Bloom, is getting ready to showcase its floral brilliance as the town welcomes judges from the prestigious North West in Bloom competition
The judging panel will visit on Tuesday 24 June, with Chorley’s presentation taking place in the Lancastrian Suite at Chorley Town Hall from 12pm.
The judges will start off their tour at the Preston Temple and Church of Latter-Day Saints with a short presentation and visit to their gardens. The tour will finish at Astley Park in the Walled Garden.
Along the route, judges will meet members of the community and visit various areas including community gardens, Chorley Railway Station Garden, the recently opened garden celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day, St George’s Quarter, Chorley Town Hall for lunch, The Cenotaph and Chorley Pals Memorial as well as other points of interest across the borough.
The visit marks a significant moment in Chorley’s ongoing commitment to enhancing green spaces, supporting biodiversity, and fostering community pride. Local volunteers, businesses, schools, and council teams have all played a vital role in creating displays and projects that highlight the town’s dedication to environmental excellence.
Chair of Chorley in Bloom, Iris Smith, said: “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together as a community. The North West in Bloom competition is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the hard work of so many people who care deeply about making Chorley a greener, brighter place to live, work and visit.
“This year, Chorley in Bloom will be representing the whole of the Norh West Region in the Small City/City category in this year’s Britain in Bloom finals with visits from the RHS UK Judges who will be visiting on 1st August.
“It would be wonderful if we could bring home the Champions Best City Award for the whole of the UK.”
Chorley in Bloom was formed in 2014 by a small number of interested local residents who wanted to help make Chorley a better place in which to live.
Chorley in Bloom is a volunteer-run group that raises funds through local events, sponsorships, donations and grants and is supported by Chorley Council. These funds are then used to undertake community projects.
Chorley has a fantastic record of success in Chorley in Bloom and Britain in Bloom competitions over the years. The town has won lots of awards, including gold medals in the Northwest in Bloom Small City category from 2015 through to 2022. Chorley also won a silver medal and a special pollinator award in the national Britain in Bloom competition in 2014.
Chorley in Bloom volunteers have worked hard to ensure that community gardens look their best and volunteer groups such as Avove, the Scouts and Guides have helped make this a truly community effort.
Judges will tour key sites across the borough to see firsthand the floral displays, community gardens, and environmental initiatives that have been developed over the past year.
The North West in Bloom competition is part of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom campaign, which encourages communities to make lasting improvements to their local environment.