A gardening group will no longer enter a regional floral competition — because they do not think it is for areas like theirs.
Cllr Gill Williams, a Daisy Hill Ward representative, told Westhoughton Town Council that the Daisy Hill in Bloom, a group working to improve the environment, would not be entering the annual North West in Bloom Competition again.
Cllr Williams, a member of the group, said: “Members have always been involved in North West in Bloom. Having met all the suggestions from the previous year’s competition we did not make any progress.
“The competition is not designed for areas like Daisy Hill. If someone throws a broken motorbike into a garden we are being judged on that “We decided we aren’t the right sort of area for the competition so aren’t going to enter anymore but we will continue to work to improve the area.”
The group’s withdrawal from future competitions comes just five years after they entered it for the first time and triumphed with an Improvement Award in 2008 for the front garden category, which focused on the main routes through the village.
Three years ago Daisy Hill In Bloom received a North West in Bloom Neighbourhood Award and was judged to be “developing” — the third highest accolade.
Cllr Williams said: “We will in some ways work harder now as we won’t just have one day in July or August to be judged.”
Cllr Ryan Battersby, Mayor of Westhoughton, added: “It would have been very easy to throw in the towel and say “we won’t carry on” but I think it’s very nice that you will all carry on.”
Cllr David Chadwick, for Central Ward, said weeds were an aspect considered by judges, which was out of the group’s control as Bolton Council do not cut them regularly enough to control the growth.
The North West In Bloom competition prides itself on being based on horticultural excellence, community involvement, environmental friendliness and sustainability.
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