July 2021

From two RHS competitions to two TV appearances, the Taking Root team have been busier than ever during July.

Welcoming Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor to visit our #HeadNorth wildflower meadows was a real treat for the children at All Saints Catholic Primary School, who loved telling Steve Rotheram everything they’d learnt and also had a great time asking lots of questions about his role in the city region.

RHS Flower Show Tatton Park

Lots of hard work went into designing the plot, with Taking Root members nurturing the plants with loving care in their community gardens (check out our page to read more http://www.regenerus.org.uk/rhs-tatton-flower-show/) in readiness, building our community border: Culture Clash, chatting to visitors on show days and finally dismantling everything and bringing it home. Delighted that we were awarded our second Gold – well done to all in the team and congratulations to Christine Leung, garden designer extraordinaire!

RHS Bootle in Bloom

The amount of preparation that goes into Bootle in Bloom can’t be underestimated. Planning starts early in the year, with Taking Root in Bootle’s Ali Horton connecting all our growers to plan the year’s entry together and organising our regular Friday morning get-togethers to work on sites along the judges’ route, come rain or shine, not to mention creating the brilliant portfolio – read it here.

Everyone involved got busy in the week running up to judging day, with last-minute weeding, tidying and litter picks, to welcome the judges on 29th July,

And even more excitement……

We’ve been on the telly, not once but twice! BBC North West Tonight came along to meet Christine and Chris at Molyneux Kale Farm to do a feature on gleaning.

And to finish off the month Channel 5 News came along to film our Community Growing Circle project. We enjoyed a great day with Peter and Adam despite quite incredible rain – none of which appears on screen – and a flying gazebo!

Watch our clip here: Bootle’s urban gardeners changing mindsets and making a difference with their micro-farms.