Rochdale town centre has been awarded gold and named the winner in the Town Centres and City Centres category at the 2026 RHS Britain in Bloom awards, organisers announced at a ceremony held at Rochdale Town Hall.
Judges praise displays, recycling and partnership working
Judges singled out the town centre’s floral displays supplied by Bowlee Garden Nursery, the borough’s recycling initiatives and the general cleanliness of the shopping and civic area. They also noted the entry’s emphasis on biodiversity and the way volunteer groups, local businesses and council teams worked together.
The Britain in Bloom submission highlighted several local projects and recent improvements as evidence of Rochdale’s commitment to public realm enhancement. These included the recently restored Grade I listed Rochdale Town Hall, the newly completed Town Hall Square and landscaping work on the slopes of Broadfield Park. The restoration work and surrounding public realm improvements received support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
“This gold belongs to every volunteer, business, Rochdale Town Centre BID, Rochdale Riverside and the council’s environmental management team whose hard work keeps our public spaces looking their best.”
The entry also drew attention to creative placemaking projects from the last year, including the Baillie Street Quarter and the murals produced as part of the 2025 Rochdale Common Walls Festival, which judges said helped reinforce a sense of local identity across the town centre.
Local reaction and context
At the awards, RHS Britain in Bloom judge Teresa Potter congratulated the town, saying: “Huge congratulations to you all, a well-deserved success. You were in a good category with excellent entries.” Councillor Tricia Ayrton, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for climate change and environment, personally thanked volunteers and partners for their efforts.
The result continues a recent run of regional and national success for Rochdale. The borough previously took Britain in Bloom gold in 2018, was named Best Small City in 2022, and earlier secured gold for its town centre in 2024. Last year, neighbouring Middleton town centre also won its category, showing wider civic commitment across the borough to street-level greening and regeneration.
- Key contributors: Bowlee Garden Nursery, volunteers, businesses, Rochdale Town Centre BID, Rochdale Riverside, council environmental management team
- Highlighted projects: Rochdale Town Hall restoration, Town Hall Square, Broadfield Park slopes, Baillie Street Quarter, 2025 Common Walls murals
- Support: National Lottery Heritage Fund backing for restoration and public realm improvements
What the award means for Rochdale
For residents and traders, the Britain in Bloom accolade is more than a trophy. It recognises ongoing investment in town centre presentation and biodiversity that can help attract visitors, boost local morale and underpin further regeneration funding opportunities. The award also validates the role of community volunteers and local nurseries in maintaining high standards of planting and cleanliness across public spaces.
| Year | Recognition |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Britain in Bloom gold |
| 2022 | Best Small City |
| 2024 | Britain in Bloom gold (town centre) |
| 2026 | Britain in Bloom gold (Town Centres & City Centres category) |
As judges and organisers move on to consider other entries around the country, the immediate effect here will be continued scrutiny of how to sustain the standards that secured the award. For local groups, the challenge will be to retain volunteer momentum and to make sure the improvements are durable, accessible and inclusive for residents and visitors alike.
The ceremony being hosted at Rochdale Town Hall underlined how the town has made the most of heritage-led regeneration to create striking civic spaces, and the award offers an extra boost to efforts to market the town centre as a welcoming and well-maintained place to live, work and visit.
