Chester city centre wins North West in Bloom award

The green-fingered efforts of CH1ChesterBID this summer have been recognised by the team behind North West in Bloom, who have awarded Chester city centre with a silver gilt.

A number of judges visited Chester in August when the city was awash with more than 160 beautiful floral displays, all embracing a purple theme to celebrate achieving Purple Flag status ­– an honour given to UK towns and cities with excellent and well-managed night time economies.

North West in Bloom administers the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Britain in Bloom competition, which is designed to encourage local communities to brighten up their town or city through floral displays.

The RHS recently introduced a new business improvement district category in recognition of the important role BIDs now play in the care and management of many towns and city centres.

Chester is one of only two BIDS in the North West to win the award this year, and the accolade was handed over as part of a special event by the chairman of Britain in Bloom, Bill Blackledge MBE.

Nick White, Chester city centre manager at CH1ChesterBID, said “We work on behalf of almost 500 city centre businesses and they tell us our floral displays help increase footfall and dwell time in the city centre.

“This year was our biggest display of floral blooms so far, with hanging baskets, flower towers and barrier baskets across the city centre.

“We are delighted to have achieved the silver gilt award and would like to thank those businesses that got behind the campaign by adding their own purple themed displays, which added even more colour to our high street this summer.

“We would like to acknowledge Walkers Plant Centre of Saighton, who helped keep the displays in tip top condition despite one of the hottest and driest summers on record.

“In addition, our thanks go to Cheshire West and Chester Council who gave us permission to place the displays on the highway and contributed towards the maintenance costs by watering the planters free of charge on our behalf.”

Jake Potter, owner and head chef at Atina Kitchen on Foregate Street, said: “The floral displays were fully on show throughout the city centre and lots of customers commented on how amazing the city centre looked.

“We had our very own display too and it was great to be part of such a successful campaign.”

Elaine Roberts of Towers Tearooms, Bell Tower Walk, added: “We’re so pleased that the city centre has been given an award for the floral displays this year.

“With the great weather we had over the summer, the city centre was a wonderful place to be and it looked so beautiful in the sunshine.”

Carl Critchlow, BID manager at CH1ChesterBID, added: “This was a magnificent effort and testament to what can be achieved when everybody pulls together for the benefit of the city. “We’re hoping for more of the same in 2019 and I’m excited to see what we can do with next year’s floral displays!”

The council’s cabinet member for environment, Councillor Karen Shore, said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to our StreetCare Services teams for their hard work maintaining the wonderful displays and for everything else they do to keep the city centre looking good.

“The hard work doesn’t stop now, we will continue to work with CH1ChesterBID for their entry into North West in Bloom, to ensure the city and all our partners are recognised for their hard work.”