Britain in Bloom Awards 2008

So close for Tameside’s Britain In Bloom bid

Tameside Council came agonisingly close to winning the national In Bloom title at a prestigious annual awards gala at Chester racecourse on Wednesday 24th September 2008.

They came within points of champions Solihull, but beat other strong competition such as Kensington and Chelsea and undefeated reigning champions Aberdeen for the coveted top prize.  Both contestants were awarded the Silver Gilt, but Solihull accumulated more points overall.

Tameside was nominated to represent the North West in the UK-wide competition when they won North West In Bloom for the third year running last year.

Royal Horticultural Society judges Roger Burnett and Rae Beckwith gave the borough top marks when they visited for the day on August 14.

Community involvement was identified as one of the borough's main strengths and the In Bloom team plus all partners were able to demonstrate the work they had done was sustainable and not just something to get involved in for a few months each year.

Community champions popped up all over from the Iris Gardening Club for the blind to the community tool sharing co-operative who got together to take part in this year’s competition.

In Bloom project head, Cllr Dave Sweeton said: "I'm obviously deeply disappointed but at the same time immensely proud of how far we’ve come and what we’ve achieved. To actually be awarded the same prize and still come second shows how close it was.”