judging programme

Judges visit town to assess the blooms
July 2013 A NANTWICH IN BLOOM PAGE

IT'S that time of year again when Nantwich will be visited by experts from the Royal Horticultural Society’s North West in Bloom region. It is all because of the town's entry in the Small Town section of the RHS annual Britain in Bloom competition when Nantwich will be vying with hundreds of other towns. The judges will visit Nantwich on the morning of Wednesday, July 17. Although it is mainly a horticultural competition, many other aspects of the town are taken into account such as cleanliness, community involvement and environmental issues. And so local organisations such as Nantwich in Bloom, Nantwich Litter Group, Nantwich Civic Society, Greenspaces South CIC and Streetscape (a Cheshire East Council department) will be making a concerted effort, along with shopkeepers, businesses and the general public, to ensure that the town looks its best. The next judge to call in will be Margaret Thrower, daughter of the late television gardener, Percy Thrower.	She will be looking at the front gardens of private houses and community establishments on July 25. Finally, the	town’s business and retail premises will be adjudicated by further judges on August 2. This year we have commissioned new signs (pictured left) at the approaches to the town, replacing the existing outdated signsOne of the new signs has been installed in the town centre flower bed. They all announce Nantwich as an award-winning floral town. A floral trough at the entrance to the Museum in Pillory Street, has been filled with herbs in celebration of Britain’s most famous herbalist, John Gerard, who was born in Nantwich in 1545. ALTHOUGH the current focus is on making the town ready for judging, our main goal is to ensure that the town blooms throughout the summer and enhances our already beautiful town for its inhabitants and visitors, making us all proud to live here. Mark Betteley, Vice-Chairman, Nantwich in Bloom

On day of their visit

The North West in Bloom judges started their visit at Coed Wen, the community wood on the eastern outskirts of the town. There, their guides were James Thompson of Greenspaces South Cheshire CIC, and Doug Butterill, former Chairman of Nantwich in Bloom.

Pictured left, in the town centre, the judges and further guides walk along Pepper Street. Left to right they are: Anthony Saxon (Nantwich in Bloom and a Reaseheath College tutor), Jeff Stubbs (Nantwich Partnership and the Civic Society), Bill Blackledge (Chairman of North West in Bloom and a judge), Mark Betteley (Vice-Chairman, Nantwich in Bloom), Brendan Cook (North West judge, environment) and Sue Hughes (Secretary, Nantwich in Bloom).

Above: In High Street, Jeff Stubbs (right) talks about the floral beds in Oat Market and Swine Market.

Right: On The Square, the judges and the societies' officials were joined by the Town Mayor, Cllr John Lewis (right). On one of the hottest days of the year, he had opted for the casual look rather than a suit and mayoral chain. But then, everyone else had gone down the same route.

ON THE day before the judges' visit, members of Nantwich Litter Group had been out and about making sure that no litter had been discarded that would cost the town valuable points. The group was founded by Cllr Lewis.

NANTWICH'S business and retail premises were judged by Margaret Thrower, daughter of the late

TV gardener, Percy Thrower, on July 25. The gardens of the homes of local residents were visited

in August.

Nantwich in Bloom index | Greenspaces South Cheshire CIC | Nantwich Civic Society | Nantwich Litter Group