IT'S official - Manchester really is blooming marvellous.

Our green-fingered city has picked up 64 awards at a major gardening contest and success in the North West in Bloom competition and the success will puts some of its greenest areas through into the national finals.

Projects picked out by Royal Horticultural Society judges for regional success include a run-down alley that has been transformed by residents into a Mediterranean-style garden in Harpurhey, a communal herb garden in Hulme and a group in Northenden who have covered their neighbourhood with flowers, planting 10,000 bulbs to brighten up the area.

A community garden created from disused garages aided Blackley's large neighbourhood entry and gardens at a high rise block in Charlestown were also recognised. Manchester's business district, Spinningfields, won best commercial effort and Didsbury has gone forward to the Britain in Bloom 2010 finals.

Coun Paul Andrews, Manchester's member for neighbourhood services, said: "This is a magnificent achievement for the city and residents should be extremely proud.

"To have entered so many schemes and to have won so many awards says a lot about the quality and standard of entries. I hope residents will continue to get involved and we might see even more awards next year."

Last month, Manchester city centre took silver in the urban community category of the Britain In Bloom awards, winning praise from judges for spots including Albert Square and Castlefield.

Manchester has almost doubled its awards tally this year - community groups won 38 gongs at last year's regional awards and just three when the contest was launched in 2004.

Tweet