IMPRESSIVE floral displays have ensured a Chester city centre initiative has come out smelling of roses.

CH1ChesterBID and the city centre businesses it represents are celebrating after walking away with a Silver Gilt at the North West in Bloom awards ceremony.

It’s the second consecutive year the city has been awarded the title.

Judges visited Chester in the summer to see the city’s beautiful floral array, which included 180 planters with more than 5,000 flowers in a range of different colours.

The mix incorporated the CH1ChesterBID colours, as the BID team were seeking support from local businesses on a renewal ballot to continue making improvements in the city centre for another five years. The ballot was won in early July, securing a second term until 2024.

It also included floral displays which consisted of colours associated with Pride, to support the annual Chester Pride event, which took place in September and included a parade through the flower-lined streets.

Chester’s North West in Bloom win came in the Business Improvement District category, which recognises the important role BIDs play in the care and management of many towns and city centres.

The Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS), which manages the Britain in Bloom competition, and North West in Bloom by extension, handed over the accolade as part of a special event held in Southport on November 1.

Nick White, Chester city centre manager at CH1ChesterBID, said: “It’s wonderful to again be recognised for our commitment to Chester and our efforts to make the city a brighter and more appealing place to shop, dine and visit.

“The Silver Gilt is a real testament of the city’s combined efforts to make the floral displays appealing, helping to increase footfall and dwell time in the city centre.

"We’d like to thank everyone involved especially Walkers Nurseries who supplied the plants and Chester West and Chester Council who ensured they were watered throughout the summer. It was our most impressive display to date.”

Julie Webb, general manager at the Grosvenor Shopping Centre, said: “This year the Grosvenor Shopping Centre was delighted to be involved in Chester in Bloom for the first time.

“We created a bee-friendly garden in our car park and hosted a range of environmental children’s activities in the centre. We’re really looking forward to working with the BID on Chester in Bloom 2020.”

For more information on the work that CH1ChesterBID will be carrying out in Chester city centre over five years, visit www.ch1chesterbid.co.uk.