Judges cast expert eyes over town's blooms

A NANTWICH IN BLOOM PAGE

NANTWICH came under the scrutiny of flower experts in July and August when judges from floral competitions came to look at the latest work of the Nantwich in Bloom Committee.

   And a name familiar to older television viewers - Percy Thrower, the nation's favourite gardening expert - came to the fore when Percy's daughter, Margaret, judged floral work carried out at the town's commercial premises. She was here as an expert judge on behalf of Nantwich in Bloom.

   But, as it turned out, the most important visit of the year was that of judges from the Royal Horticultural (RHS) Britain in Bloom competition. led by Roger Barrett in

August. This resulted in the silver-gilt award for the best town in the North West - one of six categories in the region. In all, 24 gold medals and 37 silver-gilt medals were awarded in the RHS competition.

    As well as all the hard work by Nantwich in Bloom in a bid to win a title, we must acknowledge the work of Nantwich Litter Group who had 20 volunteers out over two days clearing the streets of litter so that it didn't detract from the blooms.

RHS award for Nantwich | the RHS website | Nantwich in Bloom index | Litter picking

NORTH West in Bloom Chairman, Bill Blackledge (left), discusses the floral display in The Cocoa Yard with fellow judge, Brendan Cook (environment), Sue Hughes (Secretary, Nantwich in Bloom) and David Smith (Nantwich in Bloom committee member) on a rainy July 19.  The Nantwich in Bloom members were escorting the judges around Nantwich, having started the day at Richmond Village. The next stop was the Coed Wen Community Woodland where the first of seven information boards in the Riverside had been erected.

Margaret Thrower, daughter of the late television gardener, Percy Thrower, judged the commercial premises entered in Nantwich in Bloom's competition on Thursday, July 26. She was accompanied to the various displays by Nantwich in Bloom committee member, David Smith. Here, she is in the beer garden at the Black Lion pub in Welsh Row.