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Help make Chorley bloom

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Photo: Launching the Best Kept Garden competition 2015 are, from the left, David Brown, Iris Smith, Hannah Howlett and Chris Richardson

There are some blooming marvellous gardens in Chorley and the search is once again on to find the best in the borough.

Chorley Council, in partnership with Chorley Community Housing (CCH), has launched its annual Best Kept Garden competition and is looking for green-fingered gardeners to enter the contest which has £1000 worth of vouchers up for grabs.

With more prizes than ever before to be won, it’s hoped that this year’s event will be even bigger and better than the record entry event last year.

Councillor Adrian Lowe, who oversees the floral displays at Chorley Council, said: “Last year saw a record entry in our Best Kept Garden competition which was absolutely marvellous.

“We’re hoping that this year will be even better than ever as with more prizes to be won, more people may be encouraged to enter. There are some really beautiful gardens around our borough which people have worked hard on which deserve recognition.

“You can nominate your own garden, a neighbour’s garden or a garden you’ve seen in the borough, but you must have the homeowner’s permission. The gardens can be any design or size but they must be visible from the road or pavement.”

The council joined forces with CCH, Chorley & District Gardening Society, Birkacre Garden Centre and the new community-led Chorley in Bloom group for the competition.

Chris Richardson, Community Engagement Manager for CCH, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this competition again, a lot of our tenants take such pride in their gardens it is good to see their efforts receive recognition.”

Iris Smith, chairman of Chorley In Bloom, said: “Our vision is for us all to work together to make Chorley the blooming centre of the North West and this competition is just one of the ways people can get involved to make this happen.”

David Brown, chairman of Chorley & District Gardening Society, said: “So often people don’t enter such competitions because they always think their garden is not as good as someone else’s but really that’s not the case. I’d urge anyone who enjoys their garden to enter – you never know you may have a winner!”

There’s four categories for people to enter – small, medium or large garden and a community award – and each category has a first prize of £120 worth of vouchers, a second prize of £80 of vouchers and a third prize of £50 of vouchers. There’s also a trophy, donated by the Chorley & District Gardening Society, for the best of the best.

Pick up a nomination form either from the Council’s Civic Offices on Union Street, CCH offices in St Thomas’s Road or from Birkacre Garden Centre.

Initial judging will be done from photographs taken from the pavement or road with the homeowner’s permission and/or a detailed description of the garden and an expert panel will judge each entry and draw up a shortlist to be judged in person.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, 26 June, 2015.

All entries should be sent to Best Kept Garden Competition, Chorley Council, Civic Offices, Union Street, Chorley PR7 1AL or CCH, 32-34 St Thomas’s Road, Chorley PR7 1HR.

The council and Chorley in Bloom are also seeking the Best Pub Floral Display in conjunction with Chorley Pub Watch with a top prize of £150; plus the Best Shop Front Floral Display run in conjunction with Chorley Chamber of Trade with prizes totalling £450 available. Completed entry forms should be sent to the address above.

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