ADAS SWEEP UP (ed:- as well as doing the flowers!)

ADAS SWEEP UP

Our first GOLD award was presented to us by North West in Bloom (NWIB) in 2018.

We beamed like Cheshire cats on the stage -- and all the way back from Southport, we could be heard singing 'Gold' by Spandau Ballet.

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GOLD lettered balloons were placed in situ in The Lord Combermere at our following Volunteers Thank You evening, which one jolly chap arranged to read ASDA -- possibly on the back of my oft-repeated malapropism of saying ASDA. Thankfully, that has now passed!

We retained the required standard in 2019 and were again awarded with GOLD. To achieve it once was amazing, to get it twice was doubly amazing. But where to go from here, we thought. 2020 was sadly 'missed' due to Covid, but we did receive a certificate for 'carrying on' regardless; there's a film there?

So to 2021, judging was late due to NWIB judge availability which nearly resulted in another missed year, thankfully we were viewed just in time. On Monday, 13 Dec, Neil Goodyear and I met with the NWIB Judges in a quiet presentation (their request due to restrictions) to find out what our award would be. Could we maintain GOLD? Had we done enough? All these thoughts, and more, bounced around.

The judges came in carrying a fair bit of 'stuff'.

First up:

'We are very pleased to present you with your Gold award certificate.'

Next up: (what, there's more!)

'... Pride of Cheshire East, certificate and glass plaque sponsored by CEC.'

Finally...

'... Best Large Village, certificate and glass bowl. Really well done to you and all your team of volunteers.'

This is a fantastic achievement, beating not only other Cheshire villages but also all Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire large villages. In normal times, this last award would have meant that we would go through to the National Finals of Britain in Bloom but COVID decided to throw a spanner in the works. Next year ...!

Judging criteria for these awards are always high. Whilst the floral displays are high on our agenda, there are other issues that they take into account. The current categories we are judged on are; Horticulture, Environment and Community. All these areas, and more, are well looked after from our fantastic team of volunteers. Thank you, all.

If you would like to volunteer please call or email:

Neil Goodyear -- 07564 243996 neilgoodyear@me.com

Suzie Warren -- 07809 476523 suzie@suziewarren.com