In the depths of winter, it is great to think of warmer, brighter days, and celebrating Sefton’s success in the Britain In Bloom competition 2024 is a superb way of doing just that.

Volunteer groups across the borough were recognised yet again in the In Your Neighbourhood categories of the North West In Bloom Awards, and communities triumphed in the main “In Bloom” categories each entered.

Many of the groups work closely with Green Sefton throughout the year so sites are looking their best.

Volunteers put in thousands of hours work across the borough each year and the awards celebrate their incredible dedication.

Cllr Mhairi Doyle, Sefton Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing said: “Not only do their continued efforts help to make our Sefton greener, but they also help to bring communities together making them stronger and happier. Having passionate gardeners across our Borough looking after our valued green spaces has really enhanced our time spent outdoors.

“The scale of dedication in North West In Bloom is always very high, so these awards are testimony to the hard work of our brilliant volunteers – congratulations to them all. The many groups and individuals who won In Your Neighbourhood awards further reflect the hard work that is put into numerous parks, gardens and open spaces in the community.”

Bootle, Crosby and Waterloo, Ainsdale and Southport were all recognised in the prestigious Britain In Bloom Awards, securing Gold awards and Ainsdale In Bloom’s sterling efforts saw them entered in the Royal Horticultural Society’s national awards.

The awards are recognition for the hard work of green-fingered volunteers across Sefton, working in parks, gardens and greenspaces, maintaining planters and borders, to keep the borough green and beautiful.

Judges visited over 50 sites across Sefton with Green Sefton during the summer to assess the entries and submit their findings, taking in projects from Bootle to Maghull to Ainsdale and Southport.

The North West In Bloom Awards saw Bootle In Bloom receive a gold award for best urban community, Crosby and Waterloo secured gold for best small coastal resort, Ainsdale In Bloom scored gold for best town, and Southport in Bloom was awarded gold for best large coastal resort.

Jason Regan from Ainsdale received the Individual Young Person Award, and discretionary awards were given to Brian Quinn for his outstanding contribution to the spectacular Rotten Row herbaceous border in Southport and to the team maintaining the Poulsom Memorial Garden at Derby Park in Bootle.

Celebrating five years of outstanding In Your Neighbourhood entries were Ainsdale Village Bloomers, Edda Community Arts and Library, Ainsdale and North Park Community Garden in Bootle.

Green Sefton’s Senior Engagement Officer, John Dempsey added: “These awards are a tribute each year to the efforts of volunteers across Sefton, working in a wide range of sites from small private gardens to heritage parks.

“Green Sefton looks forward to working with you all again in 2025 – and continuing to grow the number of entries that come from the borough."