Rawtenstall in Bloom Embraces 'Regeneration and Rewilding' for 2024 Competition
Civic Pride Rossendale (CPR) has officially announced that Rawtenstall will participate in the annual In Bloom competition, with judging scheduled for July or August. The organisation is planning a series of community activities and events over the coming months to engage residents and enhance the town's floral displays.
Community Input Shapes This Year's Theme
Selecting a theme proved challenging initially, as CPR has previously celebrated creative concepts like Teasels, Trains and Textiles, Sparrows, Sunflowers and Slippers, and Friendship, Flowers and Felt. To find inspiration, Janet Allcock, CPR's publicity officer, turned to Facebook, asking volunteers and supporters for their suggestions.
"We were overwhelmed with the response, and some great ideas were put forward," Janet remarked. After reviewing the feedback and extensive discussion, CPR settled on the theme: Rawtenstall, Regeneration and Rewilding.
This theme symbolises the town's strong community spirit, the ongoing efforts to revitalise local areas, and a commitment to increasing natural spaces and biodiversity. CPR has transformed numerous neglected spots into vibrant flowerbeds, showcasing regeneration in action.
Expansion of Volunteer Efforts Across Rossendale
The announcement was made on Radio Rossendale's Pete Sweetman show by Lynn Smith, Chair of Civic Pride Rossendale. Lynn also revealed significant organisational changes, stating, "From 1st April, we are delighted to welcome the lovely volunteers from Haslingden and Helmshore Civic Pride, who will now come under the wider Civic Pride Rossendale banner."
These volunteers will continue their local litter-picking and gardening work, with CPR handling some administrative tasks. This consolidation means that individuals interested in volunteering across Rawtenstall, Crawshawbooth, Edenfield, Haslingden, Helmshore, or Rossendale can now contact a single email address: info@civic-pride.org.uk.
First Event Success and Future Plans
The first event under this new structure took place on April 4th, with a Big Easter litter-picking initiative at Taylor Woods in Edgeside. Chris Blomley, CPR's Health & Safety and Litter-Picking Officer, explained, "By removing litter in this woodland area, it helps to regenerate and hopefully rewild the area for people in the neighbourhood to enjoy."
Volunteers filled numerous bags and discovered several large items, which CPR will coordinate with Rossendale Borough Council to remove. Additionally, CPR has been active at Tesco stores in Rawtenstall and Haslingden, sharing information about their activities and recruiting new volunteers.
More events are in the pipeline to make this a memorable year, but CPR urgently needs additional support. No gardening experience is necessary, as full training and equipment are provided for tasks like litter-picking. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the CPR website, email info@civic-pride.org.uk, or check their Facebook page for more details.
