Final touches are being made to spruce up the town ahead of the North West In Bloom judges' visit to Wilmslow next week.
The Wilmslow In Bloom team will meet the judges and show them around the town on Friday, 29th July.
Ruth McNulty, In Bloom Chair, and Helen Yates, of Incredible Edible Wilmslow and the Wilmslow In Bloom Secretary, will be the guides for the morning, as the judges work their way through Wilmslow, meeting the many businesses and volunteers along the way.
Helen Yates told wilmslow.co.uk "Wilmslow will be judged for its community action to improve the town ... this includes hanging baskets, planting, artwork, litter picking, community events & generally how we work together to raise community spirit."
For three years, RHS Britain In Bloom set the theme as 'Greener Streets Better Lives' and Wilmslow decided to have a sub theme within this remit, for each of the years. The Wilmslow In Bloom team have been promoting the theme of 'Butterflies and Bees' this year, encouraging businesses and other groups to use plants attractive to both such as sunflowers, lavender or heathers and cosmos.
Helen Yates said "'This year's theme 'Butterflies and Bees' has been a really fun way to get local schools involved. It has allowed us to not only focus on insect friendly planting but also on bug huts and artwork, both through school displays in business windows and the Butterfly & Bee Weave hosted at Bank Square."
The tour will start at Lindow Common again with Ranger Paul Hughes, who won Wilmslow the Biodiversity Award in 2014 for all the work the rangers do at the Common. The judges will be shown the heathland's wildlife, history and the restoration work which has been carried out.
From there they will be taken to the Fulshaw WI's Centenary Garden on the corner of Arlington Way, Transition Wilmslow's community vegetable garden at 'The Temp' recreation ground on Gravel Lane and on to meet the Chapel Lane Business Group.
The judges will then be brought into the town centre to view the 75 businesses taking part, either by displaying planters or artwork created by local schools and Rainbows groups. There are also 11 examples of the childrens' creative displays to find around town.
The tour will also take in the Town Council planters and hanging baskets, the Incredible Edible plots - they now have 12 different sights planted out with edible plants for passers-by to enjoy - and the judges will also meet many of the volunteers, look at the school planters, the Community Butterfly & Bee Weaving at Bank Square and meet representatives from Clean Team Wilmslow.
The tour will end at The Carrs Park where Friends of the Carrs will show the judges the environmental and community work before they stroll to the Memorial Gardens to view the Rotarians rose garden and enjoy lunch whilst viewing a slideshow of all the planting and activities which have taken place throughout the town during the past year. The judges will also have the chance to chat to all of those involved.
Last year, Wilmslow won a Gold Award in the Best Large Town category. for the second consecutive year, along with the trophy for Best Community Effort. In addition, the Friends of the Carrs won a Thriving award in the It's Your Neighbourhood category. Once again they will be judged against other large towns in the North West, such as Congleton and Crewe.
Helen added "We are hoping for a Gold award again this year and are very proud to be showing the judges around Wilmslow with all of the planting, volunteers, businesses, and schools really giving Wilmslow centre a boost."
In Bloom Chair Ruth McNulty said "Edible Wilmslow In Bloom is arguably the greatest collaborative effort in the town and many residents and visitors remark positively on the visible results of that collaboration.
"We are particularly pleased by the contribution from groups outside of the town centre but we can only take the Judges to three of these – all in the Chapel Lane area. The B&B Weave in Bank Square has also proved quite a talking point. We have a lot to live up to after two consecutive Gold awards and we're hoping to make this year 'three in a row."
Wilmslow Clean Team are organising some extra litter picks on Thursday 28th July to prepare the town for the judging of the 2016 Britain in Bloom competition and would very much appreciate some additional help.
In the morning pick, volunteers will meet at The Farmer's Arms at 10am and cover from the junction of Moor Lane and Arlington Way, along Chapel Lane, to the junction with Alderley Road. They also need to cover the section of Lindow Common between the two car parks.
In the evening pick volunteers will meet at Sainsbury's car park at 6.30pm and cover the various parts of the town centre along the judges' route.
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