As Chairman of North West in Bloom I hope that you will find our new website more informative and readily accessible. This new site will now give the committee of North West in Bloom the opportunity to keep you all up to date of what is happening in both the North West and nationally. As part of Liverpool's Year of Culture and in conjunction with Liverpool City Council this year's Presentation Ceremonies will be held in the BT Convention Centre in the heart of Liverpool and as Chairman of North West in Bloom may I say what a great honour it is for North West in Bloom to be part of Liverpool's celebrations. This year’s Presentation Ceremonies will again be held over two days - The Neighbourhood Awards on Monday 06 October and the North West in Bloom Presentations Tuesday 07 October.
At last year's Presentation Ceremonies hosted by Manchester City Council over seven hundred and fifty guests attended and I would like to thank Manchester for providing such a magnificent venue - the historic Town Hall and for all their help and hard work.
The North West Neighbourhood Awards which is part of the Government’s ‘Cleaner, Safer Greener Campaign' is certainly going from strength to strength and epitomises the efforts being made by communities to improve their areas and, also to play a major role in urban regeneration. Last year the North West had over one hundred and twenty sixty entries and I feel that we will most probably surpass that number this year.
Numbers in the North West in Bloom Competition are gradually increasing but, I do feel that we need more entries especially in the City and Town categories. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish the very best of luck to this year's National Entries: Tameside, Nantwich, Woolton, Southport, Seedley and Langworthy, also to Heysham who are in the Champion of Champions, and to Garstang in the Entente Florale.
With more entries predicted this year, judging will take place throughout July and August and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all entrants who are taking part in the Competition for not only improving their own communities but also the North West.
Last, but by no means least, I would like to thank the North West in Bloom Committee for all their commitment both in administrating and judging the Competition and for making North West in Bloom one of the most successful and prestigious events in the North West.

Bill Blackledge