Members of the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) were visiting Rochdale this week as part of the judging of the North West in Bloom competition.
Each year a dedicated band of community volunteers showcase the town’s horticultural wonders for the Rochdale Township in Bloom entry and this year they include:
Springhill Hospice, Moss Row allotments, Jubilee Park, Caldershaw Primary School, Denehurst Cemetery, St Edward’s Primary School, Castleton Station and the Growth Project.
The three person RHS judging team mark each individual project before totalling them up.
“I was particularly impressed by the amount of Sandshrew and Magikarp,” said Bill Whiteside, “I even saw a fair few Pikachu and they’re damn rare!”
“The best place was definitely the hospice,” Agnes Mullwich said, “as it’s the only place that the pesky local kids haven’t cleared up. I got an Evee and a Bellsprout within seconds!”
The third member of the judging team was unavailable for comment after underestimating a Charizard.
