News Item

Bootle aims for ‘green’ competition success

Bootle is aiming for awards success this month in one of the region’s top ‘green’ competitions.

For the fourth time the town is entering the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society North West In Bloom event which aims to inspire residents to make positive changes to their local area through horticultural, environmental and community action.

Joining more experienced In Bloom locations across Sefton, Bootle is set to welcome the competition judges on 17th August and the entry organisers are hoping to go one better than the silver awards they achieved in both 2021 and 2022.

The Bootle In Bloom team is led by Taking Root in Bootle, a project facilitated by local social enterprise Regenerus which brings residents, community organisations and businesses together to bring beauty and colour to the town’s streets, and improve the local environment for everyone.

Team leader Ali Horton explained: “Bootle is not the sort of place that would traditionally enter the In Bloom competition, but we’ve worked really hard over the last few years to green up our town.

“As a result Bootle is now home to fantastic community gardens, beautiful wildflower meadows, amazing alleyways and eye-catching street planters, and entering In Bloom is a great opportunity to show just how green and vibrant the town is.

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming the judges and hope that we’ll be taking home a silver gilt medal at the awards ceremony later in the year,” added Ali.

Ruth Livesey of Regenerus said: “The In Bloom team have done a fantastic job over the last few years and really deserve to be among the prizes in this year’s competition.

“However, just as important as creating beautiful new green spaces is the community spirit and pride that working on the project generates among those who take part, and the many new friendships that as forged as part of this process.”

The In Bloom team are grateful to Sefton Council for supporting the volunteers and community organisations involved via the Green Sefton initiative.