The judges have been and gone – and YPAS North Hub has never looked greener 🌱
North West in Bloom, the regional organisation that administers the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom competition across Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, saw its judging panel visit the Hub this week to assess the remarkable transformation of the outdoor space – and the team are keeping their fingers crossed for an “outstanding” certificate this year.
A Garden Transformed
Over recent weeks; young people, staff and volunteers have poured their energy into turning the North Hub into a vibrant, welcoming haven. The front of the Hub has been smartened up with colourful planting and hanging baskets, while the back now boasts a whimsical wildflower glade – part fairy grotto, part working growing space – complete with tomatoes and eco-friendly “no dig” beds.
The judges were full of praise – not just for the garden itself, but for YPAS. They showed particular interest in the Smarty’s group, chatting about the children’s contributions to the garden and how they had helped bring the vision to life.
A Team Effort – With a Little Help
This year’s entry benefitted from extra funding, which meant the judging panel were treated to lunch at the Hub – a touch that went down very well indeed. Combined with Chris’ (Wellbeing Operations Manager) expert knowledge that marigolds are companion plants for tomatoes (who knew!), the team are hopeful this will give them the edge.
But the real story is the sheer scale of teamwork behind the scenes. People have planted, painted, created, donated, cleaned, brushed and watered – and every contribution has made a big difference.
Special mentions go to Marilla (Wellbeing Coordinator), who single-handedly carried ten bags of soil from B&Q to make sure the planting could go ahead, and to Chris, who secured the additional funding and put the work in during the final finishing touches on the morning of the judging.
And let’s not forget Jeanette’s (Therapy Team Lead) uncle Ray and uncle Kenny – a pair of absolute legends. Uncle Ray, aged 92, built a beautiful planter by hand, while uncle Kenny, aged 82, hand-delivered it to the Hub.
What’s Next?
This is just the beginning. Work on the North Hub garden continues long after judging day, with the team already looking ahead to next year’s 10-year anniversary celebration of the launch of North Hub.
North West in Bloom has been running since 1964 and remains one of the UK’s longest-running environmental competitions. With five achievement levels – from “establishing” right up to “outstanding” – the team are hoping this year’s efforts will see them climb from “thriving” to the top tier.
A huge thank you to everyone who supported, no matter how much or how little. It has been a real team effort – and the results speak for themselves.
