Press release Details

Work is underway now on the focal point of celebrations for Cheshire’s Year of the Gardens at Bollington next weekend.

The Bollington Floral Weekend on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June, supported by Macclesfield Borough Council,  will see the launch of a heritage narrowboat decorated with donations of nine hanging baskets and 20 planters from groups across East Cheshire. Floral designer Chris Harrop is adopting a theme of an English Country Garden, featuring an Alice in Wonderland scene,  on the 70-foot Lindsay  which will be given a send-off on the Sunday on its way to the Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival.

Macclesfield company Henshaws is constructing decking on the Lindsay and Warr’s the stonemasons has provided flags for a central path down the deck. The narrowboat will be lined with a specially-produced flag made by RA Smartt of Bollington. Smaller flags will the dotted around the town and handed out to children.

Chris Harrop says: “Everything’s been ordered, we’ve had some fantastic help from local companies, and now I’ll be transforming the narrowboat into a garden ready for next weekend.”

Alice Ferguson, Macclesfield-based manager of tourism board Visit Chester & Cheshire, says: “The British Waterways’ heritage narrowboat will be sent on its way from Clarence Mill by the Rose Queen of Pott Shrigley and a brass band fanfare. We’ve been delighted by the number of floral donations, which will be sold off in aid of East Cheshire Hospice once the narrowboat completes its journey along the Cheshire Ring of canals and arrives at the Middlewich Festival.”

A small yellow bus will ferry passengers around the town to the various open gardens and the Recreation Ground.

The Bollington Floral Weekend starts with:

Bollington Open Gardens, Saturday 11-4 and Sunday 10-2:

Explore  some of the most beautiful private gardens of Bollington and Kerridge in aid of the NSPCC. Tickets and maps will be available for £3 from Red Oaks Farm, Charter Road, or 60 Henshall Road. Red Oaks will offer refreshments plus a white elephant stall, while at Henshall Road, visitors will find a raffle and plant stall.

June Fair, Recreation Ground, Saturday 1-5pm:

This events, organised by the Friends of the Recreation Ground, will feature a children’s pet show, painting workshops with the Michael Moore Art School; plant sales; local produce stalls; bouncy castle; story-telling; entertainment with newly-licensed station, Canalside Community Radio; and cricket featuring the Cheshire County League Division 1 fixture between Bollington and Timperley.

Freedom Boats’ Waterbus, Saturday and Sunday, 11-4:

Hop on board the waterbus Astra for the one-hour journey between Clarence Mill, Bollington, and the Canal Centre, Macclesfield, or hail a ride at points along the towpath of the Macclesfield Canal.

Narrowboat Dressing, Clarence Mill canalside, both days from 11am:

Residents and visitors can watch the floral designers at work, putting the final touches to the 70-foot cargo boat with the theme of Made in Cheshire, plus they can visit the Bollington Discovery Centre, the Textile Triangle Exhibition, and relax at the Chilli Jam Café.
The Lindsay will be given a send-off between 2pm and 3pm by the Mayor of Bollington, Councillor Helen Kennedy, Pott Shrigley Rose Queen Sophie Doig, aged 12, and Rose Bud,  eight-year-old Madeline Cass, with entertainment from Bollington B Brass Band and Waters Green Morris Dancers.

Alice adds: “There is plenty to do in this charming, stone-built town over the weekend and hopefully it will put Bollington on the map.”

For more details about the event, please follow this link.

For details of events after the boat leaves Bollington, please follow this link.

For information about Bollington, please follow this link.

Pictures: Top: Chris Harrop with the first of the hanging baskets to adorn the Lindsay at Bollington. Middle: before the work begins. Bottom: The floating garden takes shape (this photo Copyright 2008 Simon Nottage Photography).

Ends

A Printable version of this press release is available.