Celebrating 43 Years of Dedication: A Conversation with Diane Farley

Today, we honour an extraordinary milestone, 43 years of dedicated service from one of Blackpool Council and Enveco’s longest-serving team members, Diane Farley.

Diane began her journey with the council at just 17 years old, stepping into a very different world of work. We had the pleasure of sitting down with her to reflect on the remarkable path she’s taken over the decades, from counting pool users to coordinating entire neighbourhoods. Here’s what she shared.

Tell us how your journey began, Diane.

“I started in Management Services as a Junior Bonus Clerk for toilet attendants and street sweepers. It was 1982, and I was 17 when I got the job after responding to an advertisement in the Gazette. My first office was on Clifton Street – it feels like a lifetime ago!”

One of Diane’s earliest and most memorable tasks? Counting users at the Derby Baths – something she later discovered was part of a review ahead of its closure.

You’ve clearly seen a lot of change over the years. Where did your career take you next?

“After five years, I moved into the Highways department at Layton Depot. That’s when I had to learn every street and back street in Blackpool by heart – no sat navs back then! I was responsible for inputting all that data into a computer to generate index numbers. It was a big step at the time.”

Diane remained in Highways for 20 years, during which she worked in almost every office building you can think of – Perry House, Lee House, Holman House, the Town Hall, Westgate House, and eventually, back to Layton Depot.

“Some of my favourite memories from that time were the snowball fights in winter – it was a great team to be part of.”

What came next in your career?

In 2007, Diane returned to Lee House as the Office Manager, overseeing three admin teams. Unfortunately, in 2010, she was made redundant – but Diane’s story didn’t end there.

“That’s when my favourite chapter began,” she says.

Placed on the redemployment list, Diane successfully secured a new role as Neighbourhood Coordinator for Neighbourhood Services.

“The team made it amazing – I genuinely loved it.”

When the Neighbourhoods department disbanded in 2014, Diane moved on once again, this time working under John Hawkin (Enveco’s Managing Director) at the beautiful Stanley Park, as Parks Operations Manager – another role she absolutely loved.

What’s your current role – and what do you enjoy most about it?

In 2021, Diane transitioned (TUPE’d) over to Enveco as a Neighbourhood Officer. Her role today involves supporting communities, promoting the achievements of the team, and continuing to demonstrate the same work ethic, kindness, and care she’s become known for.

“I love bringing people together – it’s what the job’s all about.”

Finally, Diane, how would you sum up your 43-year career?

“The best part of my working career is the people I’ve worked with – they’ve helped make it awesome. Thank you!”

Thank You, Diane

On behalf of everyone at Blackpool Council and Enveco, we want to say a huge thank you to Diane Farley for her incredible service, commitment, and spirit over the past four decades. Here’s to you, Diane – and to many more memorable years ahead!

Enveco Celebrates a Blooming Success with Third Annual ‘Blackpool in Bloom’ Competition

Record-Breaking Year for Enveco’s Blackpool in Bloom Competition

Enveco is proud to announce the successful conclusion of the third annual Blackpool in Bloom competition, a flagship event that continues to grow in both popularity and community impact. The initiative celebrates the horticultural achievements of Blackpool’s residents, community groups, and businesses, while promoting a strong sense of civic pride across the town. Enveco took over stewardship of the competition from long-standing organisers Elaine Smith MBE and Betty Bradford, who championed the initiative for many years with dedication and passion.

Now in its third year, the competition has seen impressive growth in participation. From just 27 entries in its inaugural year to 38 in 2024, and now a record-breaking 58 entries in 2025, the initiative continues to capture the imagination of local gardeners and green space champions.

Judging began on 17 July 2025 and took place over four full days, with a wide variety of beautifully maintained gardens, yards, businesses and community spaces showcasing creativity, dedication, and a deep sense of local pride.

Enveco extends heartfelt thanks to this year’s judging panel. Returning judges Allan Wignall, Judi Brown, Terry Mason, and Tim Riley were joined by John Thornley, recently retired from Enveco, and Steve Harvey, a valued member of Enveco’s Grounds Maintenance team.

The event concluded with a celebratory awards ceremony, held at the Village Hotel’s Inspiration Suite, where more than 170 guests gathered to recognise and applaud this year’s outstanding entrants. The ceremony was officially opened by Enveco’s Chair, Councillor Adrian Hoyle, and seamlessly hosted by Neighbourhood Officer, Diane Farley.

Awards were proudly presented by the Mayoress of Blackpool, Councillor Kim Critchley, alongside Deputy Mayoress, Councillor Mel Fenlon, adding a special sense of civic recognition to the occasion. In attendance there was several special guests, including, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Tourism, Arts & Culture Cllr Lynn Williams MBE, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Climate Change Cllr Jane Hugo, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Street Scene and Neighbourhoods Cllr Paula Burdess, Enveco’s Board Chair Cllr Adrian Hoyle, alongside Enveco’s directors , Managing Director John Hawkin, , Finance Director and Deputy Managing Director Paul Whitehead and Director of Policy & Performance Paula Ramsay,

A number of key sponsors helped make the day a resounding success:

• Blackpool Transport and My Blackpool Homes, who supported the event, along with having engaging stalls and a visible presence throughout the day
• Sages Hardware, which generously provided a stunning floral arrangement for the Mayoress
• Blackpool Council Catering, whose beautifully presented and delicious cakes were enjoyed by all in attendance

With more participants and community engagement than ever before, the 2025 Blackpool in Bloom competition has proven once again that Blackpool is blooming with pride, passion, and community spirit.

And the results are:

Yards

• Winner: Streetlife of Buchanan Street
• Runner-up: Catherine Maxwell and Michel Olivier, Woodland Grove
• Highly Commended: Mark and Debbie Mennel, Chesterfield Road

Small/Medium Gardens

• Winner: Graeme Hinde, Powell Avenue
• Runner-up: Nicola Barnett, Norbreck Road
• Highly Commended: Joanna Thomson, Howard Crump, Anne Walker, Gavin Breakell, Joy Lynch, Valerie Winter, Alan Lees, Steven Carter, Mikey Emsley, Deirdre Gregson

Large Gardens

• Winner: Janette Grierson, Speyside
• Runner-up: Gareth Braithwaite, Bennetts Lane
• Highly Commended: Susan Frye, Margaret Martin

Community Gardens

• Winner: Belle Vue Strawberry Garden Community Group
• Runner-up: Layton Methodist – Forward Project
• Highly Commended: Forget Me Not Dementia Café, Joanna Thomson

Amenity Gardens

• Winner: Friends of Stanley Park – Memorial Gardens
• Runner-up: Bill and Mavis – The Secret Garden, Watson Road Park
• Highly Commended: Friends of Layton Cemetery, Stanley Park Rose Garden, East Pines Park, Anchorsholme Park, Highfield Park, Claremont Park Community Gardens

Clean and Green Streetscene

• Winner: Back General Street Community Group
• Runner-up: Carl Norman, King George Avenue
• Highly Commended: Daniel Mullan, James Grisedale

Commercial Premises

• Winner: Chris Bracegirdle, Bloomfield Brewhouse
• Runner-up: Lyndene Hotel
• Highly Commended: Selenite Guest House, Madeira Guest House, Norbreck House Abbeyfield, Valarie Wilshaw, Harrowside House Abbeyfield, Sunny Dees Hotel, Howard Bancroft – Blackpool Cricket Club GITS

Conservation Garden

• Winner: The New Langdale – Cherry Tree/St George’s School
• Runner-up: Blackpool Carers Centre Volunteers – Beaverbrooks House

Community Support Gardens

• Winner: Layton Community House
• Runner-up: LeftCoast | The People’s Pantry Volunteers
• Highly Commended: The New Langdale, Cherry Tree Gardens Community

Champion of Champions – Public

• Winner: The Fylde Memorial Arboretum and Community Woodland
• Runner-up: Beattock Place Community Garden
• Highly Commended: Forget Me Not Dementia Café, Friends of Stanley Park

Champion of Champions – Private

• Winner: Brian J. Gore – Bali Hai, Bennetts Lane
• Runner-up: Bob Robson, Squires Gate Lane
• Highly Commended: Howard Crump, Carole Cregan, Ian Brown, Vivian Wallace Dand

New Roots

• Winner: Ellis Carrington, Cavendish Road

Thank you to everyone who took part, and we hope to see you again for Blackpool in Bloom 2026!

Click HERE for photos of the award ceremony

Click HERE for photos of the entrant’s gardens

Enveco NW, the DWP, and volunteers rebuild the storytelling circle at the Devonshire Road Rock Gardens

This collaboration exemplifies the power of community engagement and teamwork.

On September 4^th, a dedicated group of 12 DWP employees stepped away from their usual responsibilities to immerse themselves in volunteer work at the Devonshire Road Rock Gardens. This initiative fostered team building among the employees and contributed significantly to revitalising a vital community space.

Working alongside Enveco’s engagement, street cleansing, and ground maintenance teams, these volunteers took on the ambitious task of rebuilding the storytelling area within the gardens. In just one day of hard work and collaboration, they transformed a blank space into three beautifully crafted seating areas made from donated tree trunks, wood chippings, and cement edgings. The design features a thoughtfully laid-out path that encourages exploration and creativity.

The collective efforts of everyone involved have truly paid off. This newly rebuilt storytelling space is ready to welcome children eager to unleash their imaginations through stories. It stands as a testament to what can be achieved when companies like DWP partner with organizations such as Enveco NW to create meaningful volunteering opportunities that benefit both employees and the wider community. This project not only enhances local green spaces but also enriches lives by promoting creativity in our youngest generations.

A spokesperson for Enveco NW said:

“Thanks to the hard work of our engagement team, volunteers, and other members of Enveco, over the past 3 years as a company we have built some really strong relationships with various businesses to deliver volunteering opportunities for their staff, this work continues and the sparkle these events give our town speaks for itself.”

If you want to arrange a company volunteering event, email enquires@enveconw.co.uk today.

The Blackpool In Bloom 2024 results are in, and this years competition was a resounding success!

The Blackpool in Bloom competition, hosted by Enveco NW, has once again proven a resounding success. This year’s event saw a remarkable increase in applications, with a particular surge in the Community Garden category.

Since 2001 Elaine Smith MBE ran the competition after competing for many years, in 2010, Elaine was joined by Betty Bradford and her late husband Danny. Since they took over, we have seen the development of the award ceremony, the formation of friendships, and the addition of new categories to encourage more individuals and businesses to participate – 2023 saw the competition being handed over to Enveco NW.

The expert judging panel; Betty Bradford, Terry Mason, Tim Reilly, Allan Wignall, and Judi Brown, took the task of meticulously scoring these beautiful open spaces over three days braving both rain and shine to ensure a thorough and impartial evaluation. The results were exceptionally close, a testament to the high quality of entries.

The passion and dedication of Blackpool’s community shone through in the stunning floral displays and exceptionally well-maintained gardens. The judges were impressed by the level of creativity and environmental consciousness shown.

THE RESULTS

SMALL GARDENS

• Outstanding Effort – Graeme Hinde and Paul Scandrett
• Highly Commended – Howard G Crump
• Runner Up – Catherine Maxwell
• Winner – Christopher Bodman

MEDIUM GARDENS

• Outstanding Effort- Jill Darroch and Mikey Emsley
• Highly Commended – Anne Walker
• Runner Up – Valerie Winter
• Winner – Ian Brown

LARGE GARDENS

• Highly Commended – Jeanette Grierson
• Runner Up – Karen Shaw
• Winner – Brian Gore

COMMUNITY GARDENS

• Outstanding Effort – Forget-Me-Not Dementia Café, Cherry Tree Gardens, Abbeyfield Harrowside House, Highfield Park, Thursfield Avenue, Bostonway Community Gardens, Regent Court Flats, Claremont Community Centre, Holy Family Church of Links Road, Abbeyfield Norbreck House, Anchorsholme Park, East Pines Park, Blackpool Carers Centre, Stanley Park Rose Garden, Newcastle Avenue, Blackpool Centre For Independent Living and The Layton Methodist Forward Project
• Highly Commended – Layton Community Centre, Watson Road Secret Park, and the Belle Vue Strawberry Gardens Community Group
• Runner Up – Stanley Park Memorial Gardens
• Winner – Beattock Place

HANGING BASKETS

• Outstanding Effort – James Grisedale, Cherry Tree Gardens and Ian Brown
• Highly Commended – Anne Walker and Karen Shaw
• Runner Up – Robert Robson
• Winner – Arthur Parry

HOTELS AND HOLIDAY FLATS

• Outstanding Effort – Danny and William Gee from The Selenite Guest House
• Highly Commended – Carl Norman from King George Avenue
• Runner-up – Wayne and Peter Edwards from the Lawrence House Hotel
• Winner – Carole Cregan from the Clifton House Hotel

PUBS, RESTAURANTS, AND LICENCED PREMISES

• Winner – Chris Bracegirdle, of the Boars Head

CONSERVATIVE GARDENS

• Winner – Ellen Chambers

JUDGES SPECIAL AWARDS

• Vivian Wallace-Dand
• Fylde Memorial Arboretum and Community Woodlands
• Cherry Tree Gardens/St Georges School Conservation/Educational Gardens

To view all the beautiful open spaces, please click this link.

The Blackpool In Bloom 2024 Ceremony – A Floral Celebration

The award ceremony was held in the exquisite surroundings of the Winter Gardens’ modern Conference Centre and welcomed over 150 guests, including The Worshipful Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Peter Hunter, and the Leader of the Council, Councillor Lynn Williams MBE – along with John Blackledge, Director of Community and Environmental Services Blackpool Council, Members of the Enveco Board, Invited Councillors, John Hawkin, Managing Director, and Jez Evans, Operations Director, Craig Burns Street Scene Manager and supervisors from Enveco also all attended the event and spoke with many competition entrants.

This prestigious event celebrated the hard work, dedication, and community spirit that has made the Blackpool in Bloom competition a true success story. Supported by Blackpool Council and the Winter Gardens the event was a huge triumph.

Enveco’s Managing Director, John Hawkin said:

“Blackpool in Bloom is a wonderful initiative that invites individuals, groups, and businesses to showcase their creative gardening activities and enhance the town’s high-quality green areas and street scene appearance”.

Councillor Jane Hugo, cabinet member for climate change and responsibility for parks and green open spaces said:

“It is really heart-warming to see so many local people taking pride in their gardens and communities. Gardening can be a labour of love, it’s no mean feat. All the hard work and effort can clearly be seen and the rewards are fabulous. Congratulations to everyone who took part, thank you to all involved in organising the awards, and special congratulations to the award winners and runners-up”.

Don’t miss your chance to get involved next year! Start planning your garden or community project now, let’s make Blackpool the most beautiful town in the region. Email your interest to marketing@enveconw.co.uk and nearer the time you will be sent an application form.

Let’s make sure we have a colourful 2025 in Blackpool!

To view the images of the Award Ceremony, please click this link.

Stand with Eva! A junior Blackpool resident tackling dog fouling in her neighbourhood.

Eva Mawdsley, a resident of Blackpool, is determined to put an end to dog fouling in her area. The nine-year-old has grown tired of the inconvenience of stepping in dog mess while walking to school. Taking action, she reached out to her local Councillor, Paul Galley, with a proposal to install a bin between East Pines Drive and Sevenoaks Drive. Eva included a map indicating the ideal location for the bin in her correspondence, which prompted Councillor Galley to act swiftly and enlist Enveco’s help in inspecting the area.

Eva and her family, accompanied by a few of Enveco’s team members, Councillor Galley, and Councillor Cooper surveyed the neighbourhood. They quickly discovered if a bin was placed where suggested, it could result in obstructions to the pedestrians. Enveco’s officers and Eva devised a plan and marked the location with a Bag It, Bin It stencil. If the number of dog fouling incidents doesn’t decrease as a result of this, Enveco will re-evaluate the situation to see what other options there are.

It’s inspiring to witness a young member of the community demonstrate concern for the environment and take steps to resolve issues. We extend our gratitude to Eva and encourage her to remain in touch with us in the future.

Blackpool in Bloom is back and is being hosted by Enveco NW for the second year running!

Enveco are proud to host Blackpool In Bloom for their second year!

Applications are currently being accepted for this incredible opportunity to bring colour and beauty to the streets of Blackpool after a cold wet winter. It’s a chance to enhance the local area and cultivate a sense of beauty that everyone can appreciate. Best of all, you can get involved and enjoy the process! Enveco NW had an incredible experience collaborating with Elaine Smith MBE and Betty Bradford in passing the Blackpool in Bloom baton last year, as they had previously been in charge of the competition for many years. The collaboration proved to be an enormous success, serving to heighten civic pride.

Now, it’s time for another exciting round of judging, taking place over several days in the week commencing 1st July. Volunteers will be looking for the “most exquisite of displays” in nine categories, including private gardens small, medium, and large, hanging baskets, community gardens, and more. The judges will be looking for displays that catch their eye, such as those featuring water conservation, plant variety, vibrant colour schemes, and creative use of recycled items like pots.

Enveco’s NW Managing Director, John Hawkin said:

“Blackpool in Bloom is a fantastic initiative to encourage individuals, groups, and businesses to show off their inspirational gardening projects and add to the quality green spaces in the Town.”

Elaine Smith MBE said: 

“Blackpool in Bloom is the highlight of the year for the many wonderful gardeners that we have in Blackpool.   These people bring Civic pride to the town as well as making their homes and communities better places in which to live.  I am so proud of them.”

Download an application form today, by clicking this link, please return through the following options:

• Post: Blackpool Waste Services Ltd, Layton Depot, Plymouth Road, Blackpool, FY3 7HW
• Email: operations@enveconw.co.uk

Please note: Entry into the competition is restricted to addresses within the Blackpool Council boundary. Entries must be returned by Monday 27th of May 2024.

 

 

Enveco NW Environmental Services launches a new Keep Blackpool Tidy Campaign

The campaign has been adopted to encourage civic pride within Blackpool.

Enveco NW Environmental Services is a Blackpool Council wholly-owned company created to provide communities with proactive, responsive, and reliable environmental services across the town. Enveco has now expanded the Keep Blackpool Tidy ethos to build a sense of civic pride by encouraging residents to take the Keep Blackpool Tidy Pledge, provide more opportunities for volunteers to get involved in keeping the town clean and tidy, and make people aware of the fines that can be issued if an environmental offence is committed.

The launch of the campaign will see varied advertising around the town, such as:

• Eye-catching posters in street bins/Blackpool tram stops.
• Radio placements on the Greatest Hits and Fylde Coast Radio.
• An animation video on the Blackpool Transport bus TV screens, and Active Blackpool Gym TV screens.
• Engagement at local community events.

It starts with New Year 2024, with aspirations for more people to get Involved.

The overall goals are:

• Grow a sense of civic pride within the town.
• Encourage residents to take care of their street scene.
• Reduce the amount of fly-tipping, dog fouling, graffiti offences, and litter dropped in our town.
• Bring communities and Businesses together by establishing strong trusting links.
• See an increase in Blackpool’s recycling rate.
• See an overall improvement in the cleanliness of the town.

Enveco has a dedicated team that takes pride in keeping the town clean and tidy and is lucky to have a committed and valued volunteering community. This adds extra resources that enhance the normal operational services.

There are so many supportive residents and businesses already working with Enveco, by picking litter up, reporting street offenses such as graffitiing, littering, fly-tipping, reducing their waste, and recycling. But now… Enveco is determined to expand the duty to all. So, find out how you can get involved and learn more today by clicking this link.

Chair of Enveco NW Board and Deputy Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Adrian Hoyle said:

“Keeping Blackpool Tidy is the responsibility of everyone who lives, visits, and works in our town. Having a campaign that encourages civic pride, whilst educating on the ways to keep our town clean and tidy is a valued asset to have, one of which I am excited to be involved in.”

Cllr Paula Burdess, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Street Scene, and Neighbourhoods said:

“This campaign is designed to encourage all residents, visitors and businesses to do their bit to keep the town that we love clean and tidy. It can be simple actions such as always doing the right thing when disposing of rubbish or dog mess. But we are also appealing for people to go that one step further and help make a real difference through litter-picking, bulb planting, or even greening up an alleyway.”

Enveco NW wins Keep Britain Tidy Team/Crew of the Year Award

Enveco’s Household Waste Recycling Centre has won the Team/Crew of the Year Award at the Keep Britain Tidy Local Authority Network Awards 2024.

The win comes from the support given to the team regardless of background, gender, and ability. 20% of the team have a learning disability and include members who come from programmes such as Chance2Shine and Project Search. Young people with learning disabilities who are looking for work experience are welcomed by all the team. Work experience allows team members the opportunity to coach and share experiences, increasing their confidence and as a result has a positive outcome for their work ethic. The team have a ‘buddy system’ to support work placement programmes, and every team member is invested in helping and ensuring the young person develops to their full potential whilst working within the team.

Each year the HWRC team welcomes 3 or 4 Project Search interns and as a result has been able to offer paid employment to 3 interns, 2 of whom remain long-term employees and are valued members of the team. Patience, understanding and shared experiences allow the team to support the individual through what may be a very stressful experience. A former Chance2Shine attendee has been employed at the Household Waste Recycling Centre for more than 6 years.

The team are the foundation of Blackpool’s Household Waste Recycling Centre, which enables excellent service allowing Blackpool residents to recycle 7 days a week. The centre welcomes approximately 500 visits per day, and the staff offer advice and support to residents by assisting them to recycle many items and as much material as possible. The centre has a real buzz of positivity, and the team are always happy to help. The environment fosters the success of like-minded people.

Having the recognition of a renowned national environmental organisation is a huge achievement for the team. The Keep Britain Tidy Network Conference and Awards is dedicated to recognising and promoting excellence in local environmental initiatives and brings together more than 150 influential decision-makers from Local Authorities across England.

Out of around a hundred entries the environmental charity receives each year, just three local authorities are shortlisted in each category, so the competition is tough.

Chair of Enveco NW Board and Deputy Mayor of Blackpool, Councilor Adrian Hoyle said:

“What a fantastic achievement for the team at the Household Waste Recycling Centre to be recognised by such a renowned environmental body, the team make a big difference by creating a genuinely pleasant atmosphere and showcasing their willingness to assist.”

The Household Waste Recycling Centre Manager said:

“All the team at the Household Waste Recycling Centre are very proud to be recognised by the Keep Britain Tidy group. The opportunity to work alongside and coach the young people provides real job satisfaction.”

Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive. Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said:

“Our Network Awards celebrate the most innovative campaigns and solutions developed by local authorities to tackle issues like litter, fly-tipping and dog fouling, often with the communities they serve. We hope that these fantastic initiatives will inspire others across the country to do the same.”

Join our Great British Spring Clean Litter-Picking Day!

In celebration of Keep Britain Tidy’s 70th anniversary and the relaunch of Keep Blackpool Tidy, Enveco is hosting a Litter-Picking day at the beautiful Stanley Park as part of the Great British Spring Clean.

The Great British Spring Clean is now back for its ninth year and is the nation’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign, which will take place from 15th to 31st March. In previous years we have supported our volunteering communities, but this year, in addition we will be hosting our own Great British Spring Clean Litter-Picking day at Stanley Park, and we’d like to ask you to join us.

So, on the 28th March, you can find us in the Italian Gardens or near the Clock Tower from 10am to 2pm, where you will be able to collect bags and a litter picker, and if requested one of our engagement team will be happy to take you around the park to start litter picking. When you have finished your litter pick, there will be a chance to play litter bingo to win some fun prizes. All ages are welcome, however, children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

We hope to see you there. We also want to shout out about how fortunate we are to have such a strong volunteering community and we now have 157 volunteers reporting from regular groups – from parks, and community groups, to individuals and the total number of hours volunteers to date is 3,798.

Find out more about the Great British Spring Clean by clicking here or mark your attendance and share our event by clicking here.

 

 

Elaine Smith MBE and Betty Bradford hand over the Blackpool in Bloom Baton to Enveco!

Enveco NW, Blackpool’s environmental service provider for Blackpool Council, co-hosted the Blackpool in Bloom 2023 competition for the very first time!

With exceptional guidance and support from Elaine Smith MBE and Betty Bradford, as they prepared to hand over the baton.

Blackpool in Bloom allows Blackpool residents and businesses to compete in showcasing their beautiful outside spaces. It builds civic pride whilst making the appearance of the town appealing to residents and visitors alike.

It all started over 20 years ago by Cllr Kath Rowson and has since evolved into 11 categories of judging, capturing a wide range of community, businesses and home life in the town. The aim is to encourage more businesses and community groups to get involved and reveal their beautiful surroundings.

Elaine Smith MBE and Betty Bradford are incredible volunteers within the community. Elaine has been involved in Blackpool In Bloom for many years, which started when she competed in the competition in the mid-1990s and took over hosting in 2001. Betty Bradford and her late husband Danny Bradford first competed in 2007 before becoming judges in 2010.

Since they took over management, we have seen the creation of the award ceremony, the formation of friendships, and the addition of new categories to encourage more individuals and businesses to participate.

Elaine Smith MBE said

”I am delighted to be passing this competition onto Enveco, as they are an environmental company for Blackpool Council it feels like the right thing to do. Betty and I have been with the hosts from start to finish so I know we were able to hand this over the best way. The overall competition was a huge success and I look forward to having more time to enjoy it next year.”

This year, 37 open spaces were judged over the course of two days, through rain and shine. Elaine Smith and Diane Farley (Enveco’s Neighbourhood Officer) managed the route whilst four judges, Betty Bradford, Terry Mason, Tim Reilly, and Allan Wignall, judged the competition, as they have for many years sharing a wealth of knowledge. Jessica Christian (Enveco’s Marketing and Communications Officer) had the pleasure of capturing these beautiful spaces, and Andy Parr from the Blackpool Council transport team kindly drove the bus for the two days.

Each judge scored from 50 points – 10 for design, 10 for colour, 10 for impact, 10 for maintenance and 10 for overall impression – this is how they came to the winning decisions.

After two days of judging the numbers were in and the winners were chosen.

THE RESULTS

HOTELS & HOLIDAY FLATS (10 ROOMS OR LESS)

• Runner-up – Wayne and Peter Edwards from the Lawrence House Hotel
• Winner – Carole Cregan from the Clifton House Hotel

CLEAN AND GREEN STREET SCENE

• Winner – Stuart Reynolds, of back General Street

PUBS, RESTAURANTS AND LICENCED PREMISES

• Winner – Chris Bracegirdle, of the Boars Head

CORONATION THEMED GARDEN (ADDITIONAL CATEGORY)

• Runner-up – Charlotte Bremner and the team at William Lyon’s House
• Winner – Chris Varney

When visiting the Forget Me Not Dementia Café at the Marton United Reformed Church, the judges realised that this open space was something different to the other categories. The judges were so impressed by the safe garden space and the work being done that they decided to create the Memory Garden Award.

This open space means so much to the over 30 people from the group who have been tending to the Sensory Garden every week, come rain or shine and always with a smile.

MEMORY GARDEN (ADDITIONAL CATEGORY)

• Winner – Jenny Fitzsimmons from the Forget Me Not Dementia Café at the Marton United Reformed Church

After this unusually hot summer and now the wet weather, conservation is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Travelling through the judges realised that the categories did not do justice to some of the gardens, therefore they opted for a more appropriate category and introduced a private conservation category, with the following results.

PRIVATE CONSERVATION (ADDITIONAL CATEGORY)

• Runner-up – Ellen Chambers
• Winner – Neil Williams

CONSERVATION GARDENS

• Highly commended – Angela and the team at Belle Vue, Strawberry Gardens
• Runner-up – Holy Family Church
• Winner – Joseph Mori and the team at the Revoe Community Garden

COMMERCIAL OFFICES, SHOPS & FACTORIES

• Winner – Paul Preston and his team at the Household Waste Recycling Centre for the tree-lined pathway

HANGING BASKETS

• Highly acclaimed – Chris Varney
• Runner-up – Ian Brown
• Winner – Arthur Parry

SMALL PRIVATE GARDENS & BACK YARDS

• Outstanding effort – Mark and Julia Arnold, Paul Scandrett and James Grisedale
• Highly commended – Michael Smith
• Runner-up – Arthur Parry
• Winner – Howard Crump

MEDIUM PRIVATE GARDENS

• Highly commended – Michael Emsley
• Highly commended – Ian Brown
• Runner-up – Stephen Connolly
• Winner – Garry Tunnicliffe

LARGE PRIVATE GARDENS

• Highly commended – Jeannette Grierson
• Runner-up – Brian Gore
• Winner – Vivian Wallace-Dand

COMMUNITY GARDENS

• Outstanding effort – Abbeyfield House, Norbreck Road and Regent Court Apartments
• Highly commended – Layton Community House and Claremont Community Garden
• Runner-up – Abbeyfield House, Harrow Side
• Winner – Stanley Park Rose Garden

SPECIAL RECOGNITION (ADDITIONAL CATEGORY)

• Winner – Watson Road Secret Park

STREET IMPACT (ADDITIONAL CATEGORY)

• Winner – Robert Robson

To view all the beautiful open spaces, please click this link.

An award ceremony “fit for a king”

The award ceremony took place at the Winter Gardens, over 100 people attended, and each entrant received a certificate from Blackpool’s Worshipful Mayor, Cllr Gillian Campbell, and Mayoress, Sky Campbell. The winners and runners-up received newly designed trophies. Diane Farley of Enveco did a wonderful job hosting the event, with help from the Enveco crew, Elaine Smith and Betty Bradford.

John Blackledge, Director of Community and Environmental Services at Blackpool Council, John Paul Lovie, Head of Waste Management at Blackpool Council, and John Hawkin, Managing Director at Enveco all attended the event and spoke with the competition entrants.

The event was a huge success with Enveco being supported by Blackpool Council and the Winter Gardens which of course helped make it as special as it was.

Managing Director, John Hawkin said

“Blackpool in Bloom is a fantastic initiative to encourage individuals, groups and businesses to show off their inspirational gardening projects and add to the quality green spaces in the Town.”

Join Blackpool in Bloom 2024, email your interest to marketing@enveconw.co.uk and nearer the time you will be sent an application form.

Let’s make sure we have a blooming 2024 in Blackpool!

To view the images of the Award Ceremony, please click this link.