It’s official ... Pendle is well and truly blooming!
From Best Town, to Best Large Town, to first time success for Nelson, the borough has it all - sweeping the board at this year’s North West In Bloom glittering awards ceremony.
For bonny Colne, the town has once again proved to be the cream of the “Best Large Town” crop, by picking up gold for the sixth year in a row and bagging the Lord Mayor of Chester’s Millennium Trophy for the fifth time.
Barnoldswick also continued with its run of petal power in the Best Town category, scooping gold for the fourth time, winning the Preston Silver Dish, and earning themselves a nomination in the next Britain In Bloom.
Barlick in Bloom Secretary Lindsay Gaskell said: “There were 12 in the town category and five got gold but we were awarded the best overall which is very, very good.
“We now go in to the Britain in Bloom competition in the town category to represent the North West.
“We are very proud. It’s for everybody from those picking up bits of litter to keep the town smart to the people lending a hand to plant.
“I think we are all a bit starstruck. The silver plate is lovely, it’s absolutely fantastic. Simply the best, that’s us.”
Nelson also emerged as a budding force alongside Pendle’s perennials, being given a Highly Commended accolade for “Best Newcomer”, winning a silver gilt medal in the Large Town category and picking up the World War One Commemoration Award for its war memorial.
Elsewhere in the borough, Trawden was awarded silver gilt in the “Large Village” category, given a special gong for its poppy trail, and Wycoller Country Park was also presented with a conservation award.
In the small village section, Blacko was one of only two gold award winners – after winning silver gilt four times – while Laneshaw Bridge and Barrowford won a silver gilt award.
Blacko also won a special award for its “Blacko’s Golden Bedding” entry in the category which encouraged entrants to plant in a gold theme to mark the competition’s 50th year.
Colne In Bloom’s Coun. Dorothy Lord, who was among the 30 Pendle residents in attendance at the Southport convention, said: “For the whole of Pendle it was excellent – we were just thrilled to bits.
“The first award went to Nelson with them winning an award for the war memorial, so we were all cheering. We were the noisiest crowd.
“It is the best award ceremony I have been to, because we were all rooting for each other, and were just so proud of Pendle.
“There were about 500 people at the lunch – it is massive and like the Oscars.”
Trawden in Bloom’s Bev Robinson added: “Well done Pendle. When you think this is all voluntary it’s absolutely amazing.”
And Jim Knowles, for Laneshaw Bridge in Bloom, added: “We are pleased, as we didn’t think we had done as well as last year. All of Pendle won something, and it just shows what effort people put in in this area.”
Nelson in Bloom’s Russell Tennant said: “We are quite amazed at scooping no less than three awards in our first ever competition year.
“A big thank you to everyone who helped and supported and made this happen.
“I really think the community spirit shown was amazing and hopefully we can keep up the good work.”
And Blacko in Bloom spokesman Richard Kenyon said: “It’s great news for Blacko, and especially to those who invested their time and energy. Well done!”
In the North West In Your Neighbourhood Awards, North Valley Community Centre, in Colne, was marked as “outstanding” and Colne Hall Gardens were marked as “thriving”.